Once causes are determined, then there is talk of "social injustice" and the privileged begin to resist.

As we progress, various shades of meaning and deeper levels of understanding will complement this initial effort.

We take it for granted that Jesus was not interested in political life: his mission was purely religious. Indeed we have witnessed . . . the 'iconization' of the life of Jesus: 'This is a Jesus of hieratic, stereotyped gestures, all representing theological themes. In this way, the life of Jesus is no longer a human life, submerged in history, but a theological life -- an icon.

Human history is in truth nothing but the history of the slow, uncertain, and surprising fulfillment of the Promise.

Christendom is not primarily a mental construct. It is above all a fact, indeed the longest historical experience the Church has had. Hence the deep impact it has made on its life and thought.

Theology is reflection, a critical attitude. The commitment of love, of service, comes first. Theology follows; it is the second step.

The world today is experiencing a profound and rapid socio-cultural transformation. But the changes do not occur at a uniform pace, and the discrepancies in the change process have differentiated the various countries and regions of our planet.