Minister of Culture: Faith - a benchmark of stability in times of crisis

In a context marked by instability and ideologies that question universal values, faith remains a resource of meaning and hope, said the interim Minister of Culture, Natalia Intotero, at the International Symposium on Theology organized by the Romanian Patriarchate at the Patriarchate Palace. The event was organized under the sign of a triple anniversary that is significant for the Romanian Orthodox Church and Eastern Christianity:

1,700 years since the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325); 140 years of autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church; 100 years since the establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate.

• Christian values, foundations of European culture

The Minister of Culture highlighted the essential role of Christian values in the formation of Europe:

"The values stemming from the Gospel have been the foundation of law, freedom and collective conscience, offering the world a model of unity and cohesion, even in times of trial". The Minister underlined the indissoluble link between faith and the cultural identity of the Romanian people: "Without the Liturgy, we would have had no literary language. Without churches and monasteries, we would have had no written culture. Without clergy, monks and lay people responsibly involved in the life of the Church, we would have had no Christian education, no moral models for society". The Minister added that the anniversaries marked in 2025 represent "foundation stones of a Christian civilization and a national conscience", reaffirming that freedom implies responsibility, and the truth is lived and spoken with dignity.

The symposium brought together prominent figures from the religious, academic and cultural worlds: His Beatitude Father Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda SJ, Roman Catholic Church (Italy), Mons. Giampiero Gloder, Apostolic Nuncio to Romania, Acad. Ioan-Aurel Pop, President of the Romanian Academy, Ciprian Vasile Olinici, Secretary of State for Religious Affairs, Prof. Dr. Marian Preda, Rector of the University of Bucharest. High hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church, theologians and international guests were also present, providing a framework for reflection on the continuity of Christian values in contemporary society.