Saints and Scholars: Nostra Aetate and Islam

2025 marks the 60^th anniversary of the 1965 publication of Nostra Aetate, the Catholic Church’s “Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions,” which was promulgated as part of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965). Nostra Aetate was revolutionary in acknowledging “true and holy” aspects of religions other than Christianity. Section 3 of Nostra Aetate, in particular, marks the first time the Catholic Church has spoken so positively about the beliefs and virtues of Muslims, whom the document encourages Catholics to regard "with esteem." In this lecture, after mentioning the Nostra Aetate's origins in Christian-Jewish dialogue, Krokus will discuss the Catholic thinkers who theologically paved the way for Nostra Aetate's positive turn toward Muslims as well as the Catholics who have since implemented its aims. Krokus will also examine the structure of section 3 itself, noting its call for conversion among Catholics as well as the intellectual and moral prongs of its proposed program for Christian-Muslim "mutual understanding" and pursuit of "common welfare."

Dr. Christian Krokus, a Lafayette alumnus (’97), is Professor of Theology/Religious studies at the University of Scranton, where his teaching and research focus on Catholic-Muslim dialogue. He is the co-editor of Christian de Chergé: Spiritual Writings (Orbis, 2025) and the author of The Theology of Louis Massignon: Islam, Christ, and the Church (CUA, 2017).