God, Christ, the Church: Questions and Answers

Edited by Arturo Cattaneo with a foreword by Msgr. Rino Fisichella

Contributing authors: Daniel Arasa, Valeria Ascheri, Graziano Borgonovo, Gianfranco Calabrese, Luis Cano, Amedeo Cencini, Gonzalo de la Morena, João Paulo de Mendonça Dantas, Emanuele di Marco, Antonio Ducay, Bruno Forte, Philip Goyret, Manfred Hauke, André-Marie Jerumanis, Antonio Malo, Giulio Maspero, Nicolas Massmann, Călin-Daniel Pațulea, Giorgio Paximadi, Juan José Pérez-Soba Diez del Corral, Antonio Petagine, Pilar Río, Espagnet Carla Rossi, Antonio Staglianò, Vittoradolfo Tambone, Isabel Troconis, Marco Vanzini, Andrea Villafiorita, Carlos Villar López, Giovanni Zaccaria

God, Christ, the Church: Questions and Answers offers clear, thoughtful responses to the most profound questions of faith. Edited by Arturo Cattaneo with contributions from leading theologians, it explores belief in God, the mystery of Christ, and the life of the Church with both intellectual rigor and pastoral warmth. Written in accessible language, this volume invites readers to rediscover the beauty, coherence, and hope of Christian faith in today’s searching world.

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TESTIMONIALS

“God, Christ, the Church is a luminous work of theological clarity and pastoral depth. It leads the reader from question to contemplation, from understanding to worship—a rare synthesis of intellect and faith that nourishes both the mind and the soul.” — Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, author of Catholic Realism: A Framework for the Refutation of Atheism and the Evangelization of Atheists

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS

Arasa, Daniel

Born in Barcelona (Spain), he holds degrees in Journalism and Theology. Since 2001 he has taught at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome), where he is Dean of the Faculty of Communication. He also works with the news agency Rome Reports TV, specializing in coverage of the Pope, the Vatican and the Catholic Church, and is a Consultor of the Dicastery of Communications.

Ascheri, Valeria

Born in Genoa in 1976. MA in Philosophy (1999), PhD in Philosophy of Science (2004) at the University of Genoa and Licentiate in Institutional Communication (2013) at the University of the Holy Cross. Since 2011 she has been Extraordinary Professor and tenured lecturer for the area of Philosophy at the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences (University of the Holy Cross) and Guest Lecturer in the faculties of Philosophy of the Angelicum, Urbaniana and Regina Apostolorum Pontifical Universities, where she teaches courses in Metaphysics, Epistemology and Science and Faith. She has also worked in the past with the Pontifical Council for Culture (STOQ Project) and the Pontifical Academy for Life. She is currently a pastoral worker and catechist at St. Pius X Parish in Rome. Email: ascheri@pusc.it

Borgonovo, Graziano

Born in Monza in 1960, priest for the Diocese of Lugano in 1991. Degree in Philosophy at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan and Doctorate in Theology at Fribourg University in Switzerland. Professor at the Faculty of Theology in Lugano (1994-2001). Rector of the John Paul II International Philosophical Theological Seminary in Rome (2003-2009). Official of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (2010-2024). Currently teaches at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross and the aforementioned Università Cattolica. On Feb. 5, 2024, the Pope appointed him Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for Fundamental Questions of Evangelization in the World.

Calabrese, Gianfranco

Lecturer in Dogmatics-Ecclesiology and General Catechetics at the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy – Affiliated Theological Institute of Genoa. At the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences in Genoa, he teaches General Catechetics and Introduction to Theology. At the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences of the University of the Holy Cross in Rome he teaches Catechetics and Introduction of Psychology and Pedagogy. His numerous publications include Ecclesiologia Sinodale. Punti fermi e questioni aperte (2021).

Cano, Luis 

Born in 1963, graduated in Law and Doctor of Theology. Member of the Saint Josemaría Escrivá Historical Institute. His field of research, in addition to Opus Dei and its founder – particularly his preaching and writings – is the history of devotion to the Sacred Heart and Christ the King. He is professor of Church History in the Second Millennium at the University of the Holy Cross and at the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences at the Apollinare (Rome). He is involved in evangelization and family promotion activities in Rome. Email: lucano@pusc.it

Cencini, Amedeo

Lecturer in various Pontifical Universities in psychology subjects in the area of formation. He was for several years a formator in his institute (Canossian Fathers). Since 1995 he has been a Consultor of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; since 2023 he has also been a Consultor of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. He has been a member of the Italian Episcopal Conference National Service for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons. For several years he has been a Pontifical Delegate to religious institutes in difficulty. He has published numerous essays on spirituality.

de la Morena, Gonzalo 

Degree in Industrial Engineering from the Universidad Politécnica of Madrid in 2011. Priest in 2016. Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology at the University of the Holy Cross (2019), where he currently teaches in the area of Christology. Among his writings is Genesi dello scandalo cristiano. Origine storica della fede nella divinità di Gesù, soon to be published by Città Nuova, Rome.

de Mendonça Dantas, João Paulo

Doctorate in 2009 and Habilitation in Theology in 2014 at the Faculty of Theology in Lugano (Switzerland). From 2011 to 2013 he taught Systematic Theology in the Catholic Faculty of Fortaleza (Brazil). In 2015 he participated in the founding of the Catholic Faculty of Belém (Brazil), where he teaches Systematic Theology. From 2019 to 2021 he was an assessor of the Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference (CNBB). Since 2015, he has also taught Theology Courses at the Faculty of Theology in Lugano. He has published several books and articles in Portuguese, Italian, English and French. He is currently Rector of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, in Belém.

di Marco, Emanuele

Born in Lugano in 1982, he is a educationalist and theologian. Ordained a priest in 2011. 2014 Doctorate in Pastoral Theology at the Pontifical Lateran University. In the same year he graduated as a formator from the Saint Peter Favre Institute of the Pontifical Gregorian University. Lecturer in Pastoral Theology at the Faculty of Theology in Lugano. Director of the Office of Religious Teaching in Schools and the Catechetical Office of the Diocese of Lugano.

Ducay, Antonio 

Priest and Ordinary Professor of Christology at the University of the Holy Cross. A graduate in civil engineering, after obtaining his doctorate in theology, he has specialized in Christological and Mariological issues. Since 2020, he has been director of the Department of Dogmatics at the Faculty of Theology of the above mentioned University.

Forte, Bruno 

Archbishop of Chieti-Vasto, member of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and of the Joint Commissions for Dialogue with the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and for Dialogue with the Orthodox Churches. Doctor of Theology and Philosophy, he was Professor of Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy in Naples He has received honorary degrees from several universities: Lublin, Princeton, Melbourne, Chieti-Pescara. In Salzburg he was awarded the Theologischer Preis for Lifetime Achievement by the Catholic Academies of the German Language in 2011. Some of his major works are Simbolica Ecclesiale (Edizioni San Paolo, Milan) in eight volumes and Dialogica (Morcelliana, Brescia), likewise in eight volumes.

Goyret, Philip

Born 1956. Industrial engineer, priest, doctor of theology, and professor of ecclesiology at the Faculty of Theology of the Pont. University of the Holy Cross. His teaching, research and publications focus on ecclesiology, ecumenism, sacramental theology and priesthood. From 2016 to 2024 he was the Dean of the Faculty of Theology and from 2010 to 2023 the Rector of the Church of San Girolamo della Carità (Rome). He is currently Chaplain of the University of the Holy Cross and a member of the Governing Committee of the Italian Society for Theological Research.

Hauke, Manfred 

Born 1956, priest of the Archdiocese of Paderborn (Germany). Since 1993 professor of Dogmatics at the Theological Faculty of Lugano (Switzerland). Within Dogmatics, his publications have specialized in Mariology. He is an ordinary member of the “Pontificia Academia Mariana Internationalis” and president of the German Society of Mariology. Among other things, he directs the scientific series “Mariologische Studien” (Regensburg) and “Collana di Mariologia” (Lugano). For more detailed Curriculum Vitae and scientific publications, see https://manfred-hauke.ch

Jerumanis, André-Marie

Born 1956 in Leuven (Belgium). Priest of the diocese of Liege (Belgium) (1985), Fidei donum in Lugano since 1995. Doctorate in medicine at UCL (Louvain) (1981). Doctorate in theology at the Alphonsianum (Rome) (1998). Ordinary Professor of moral theology at the Faculty of Theology in Lugano where he teaches Fundamental Moral Theology, and Bioethics (2009). Director of the Hans Urs von Balthasar Study Center at the Faculty of Theology in Lugano. Member of the Bioethics Commission of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference (2009). Member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology (2021). Among his publications: L’uomo splendore della Gloria di Dio. La sfida estetica della cultura postmoderna per la morale cristiana, EDB, Bologna 2005; In Cristo, con Cristo, per Cristo. Manuale di teologia morale fondamentale, Camilliane, Torino 2013.

Malo, Antonio

Born in 1957 in Zaragoza, Spain. Priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei. Graduate in Philology and Philosophy in the University of Navarre (Spain) and Doctor of Philosophy in the University of the Holy Cross, where he has been Professor of Anthropology since 2006. Director of the Doctor of Philosophy program at the Faculty of Philosophy of the same university where he is also Assessor of the Family and Media Project. Visiting professor at various American universities. His writings and research interests are in the anthropology of affectivity, action theory, human relationships and gift. Among his most recent publications: Uomo o donna: Una differenza che conta (Milano 2017; in German: Berlin 2018), Antropologia del perdono (Roma 2018), Transcending Gender Ideology (Washington 2020), Svelare il mistero. Filosofia e narrativa a confronto (Roma 2021) e Invito alla lettura del De Anima. Un commento antropologico (Roma 2022). Email: antoniomalope@gmail.com

Maspero, Giulio

Born in 1970, a priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei, he is a physicist and theologian, Professor of Dogmatic Theology at the University of the Holy Cross. He is currently Dean of the same faculty. Has a special interest in patristics and the relations of theology with philosophy and literature.

Massmann, Nicolas

Priest, doctor of dogmatic theology at the University of the Holy Cross. He is currently chaplain at the International College Müngersdorf (Cologne) and is mainly involved in youth and family ministry. He specializes in contemporary theology, particularly in the thought of Joseph Ratzinger and Romano Guardini. Email: nmassmann@campus-muengersdorf.de

Pațulea, Călin-Daniel

Studied at the Major Seminary of Blaj (Romania), and at the Faculty of Theology in Lugano (Switzerland). Since 2000 he has been professor of Sacred Scripture: Old and New Testament in the Major Seminary of Blaj and in the Department of Pastoral Theology, Faculty of Greek-Catholic Theology, University “Babeş-Bolyai” Cluj-Napoca. Guest lecturer at the Faculty of Theology in Lugano. E-mail: calin.daniel.patulea@usi.ch; danielpatulea@yahoo.it

Paximadi, Giorgio

Ordinary Professor of Old Testament Exegesis at the Faculty of Theology in Lugano and priest of the same diocese. Graduated in Classical Literature at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan. Licentiate in Theology at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) with a thesis directed by Fr. J.D. Barthélemy O.P. Licentiate in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, under the direction of Fr. Luis Alonso Schökel S.J., and Doctorate in Biblical Sciences, under the direction of Fr. Pietro Bovati S.J. Author of articles and monographs on linguistic and exegetical subjects and specializing particularly in priestly texts.

Pérez-Soba Diez del Corral, Juan José 

Born in Madrid in 1964. Ordained priest for the diocese of Madrid in1991. Ordinary Professor of family pastoral care in the Pontifical Theological Institute John Paul II for Marriage and the Family the Sciences (Rome). Guest professor in the Faculty of Theology at the San Dámaso Ecclesiastical University in Madrid. Email: perezsoba@istitutogp2.it

Petagine, Antonio

Born 1974. After several years of research at the Catholic University of Milan, he taught History of Medieval Philosophy from 2011 to 2013 at the University of Urbino and was a researcher from 2014 to 2016 at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. At the University of the Holy Cross, he was lecturer, from 2016 to 2018, then extraordinary professor of History of Medieval Philosophy. Since 2019, he has been teaching History of Philosophy at Roma Tre University. His publications specialize in metaphysics and anthropology, with a focus on the great authors of the history of medieval philosophy.

Río, Pilar 

Lecturer at the Institute of Liturgy of the University of the Holy Cross, where she teaches Liturgical-Sacramental Theology of Baptism and Confirmation, Liturgical Ecclesiology and Christian Initiation. Among her latest publications: Chiesa e liturgia, Apporti del rinnovamento liturgico all’ecclesiologia del XX secolo (Roma, 2020) e La liturgia, epifania della Chiesa. Teologia e Magistero da san Pio X al Concilio Vaticano II (Roma, 2021).

Rossi, Espagnet Carla

Professor of Spiritual Theology at the University of the Holy Cross and Mariology at the Istituto Superiore di Scienze Religiose all’Apollinare of the same University. In 2024 she was appointed Director of the Institute. She has published several articles on the themes of the family and the presence of women in the Church, as well as on Marian themes, and some monographs. The latest is Missione Famiglia, Rome 2024.

Staglianò, Antonio

Born 1959, PhD in fundamental theology at the Gregorian University. From 2009 to 2022 Bishop of Noto. In 2022 he was appointed president of the Pontifical Academy of Theology. Since 2024 he has also been a consultor for the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Tambone, Vittoradolfo 

M.D. degree. PhD in Systematic Moral Theology. PhD in Bioethics. Ordinary Professor of Forensic Medicine at the Campus Biomedico University in Rome. Director of the Bioethics & Humanities Research Unit at the same University. Coordinator of the Healthcare Bioethics Center of the Fondazione Policlinico Campus Biomedico in Rome. Member of the National College of Forensic Medicine. Visiting professor in some Universities and Lecturer at the Lateran University. Member of the Italian Society of Legal Medicine. Member of the Board of the National Federation of the Orders of Surgeons and Dentists for the renewal of the Code of Medical Ethics.

Troconis, Isabel

PhD in theology, professor of dogmatic theology at the University of the Holy Cross. She has also collaborated with the master’s program “Filosofía y Religión según el pensamiento de Joseph Ratzinger” at the Universidad Internacional de la Rioja (Spain) and with the “Acreditación en Pedagogía de la Fe” program at the Universidad Panamericana (Mexico). Most of her publications focus on Joseph Ratzinger’s theology (relationship between ontology and history, anthropology, Christology, reason and freedom).

Vanzini, Marco

Priest of Opus Dei and Associate Professor of Fundamental Theology at the University of the Holy Cross. His research focuses on issues of the religious phenomenon, theological method and the relationship between science and theology, as well as the theme of Christ’s Resurrection. For years in his pastoral work he has been especially dedicated to university students.

Villafiorita, Andrea

Ph.D. in physics in the University of Modena and in theology in the University of the Holy Cross. Tenured lecturer in dogmatic theology area at the ISSR Ligure and ITA in Genoa. He has a special interest in theological anthropology and Christian ecology. He is a priest of the Diocese of Genoa, where he is involved in youth ministry and is chaplain of a care home.

Villar López, Carlos

Born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1975. Graduated in History in 1998 in the University of Barcelona. Doctorate in Theology in the University of the Holy Cross in 2007. For years he has worked in youth ministry, formation of seminarians, accompaniment of engaged couples and young married couples. In 2022 he was appointed spiritual director of the Roman College of the Holy Cross (Rome) and since 2024 he has been a professor in the Department of Spiritual Theology at the University of the Holy Cross where he gives lectures on anthropology and spirituality. His latest publication: La verdadera noche es luz (ed. Cobel), an essay on spiritual life in light of the mystery of the Cross.

Zaccaria, Giovanni 

Born 1979, priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei (2012). Degree in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Verona (2003). Doctorate in Liturgical Theology in the University of the Holy Cross (2013). Teaching at the Institute of Liturgy at the same University, where he is extraordinary professor of Liturgy of the Sacraments. Author of several articles and books, including: Liturgy. An Introduction, with Prof. J.L. Gutiérrez Martín (Rome 2016); La Messa spiegata ai ragazzi (e non solo a loro) (Milano 2018); Immitte Spiritum Paraclitum. Teologia liturgica della confermazione (MSIL 80 – Città del Vaticano 2019); Sacerdoti, re profeti e martiri. Teologia liturgica della Messa crismale (BELS 203, CLV – Roma, 2022).

ABOUT THE EDITOR

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