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The Jesuit fortnightly magazine La Civiltà Cattolica first attained recognition during a time when the very meaning of communication was changing, and it has been doing so ever since.

La Civilità Cattolica is a 168 year old magazine, one of the oldest in the world. Its origins can be traced back to January 9, 1850, when Pius IX asked Fr. Roothaan, the General of the Society of Jesus during that time, to begin publishing the journal. Later, Leo XIII would constitute a group of “chosen writers, united in shared life and study,” able to pursue “the quest for the truth and love of justice.” Pope Francis pointed out: “Your magazine is often on my desk. You have faithfully accompanied all the fundamental passages of my Pontificate giving them a faithful interpretation.” Furthermore, he asked the review to “be ever more open to the world.”

The magazine has now responded to this new challenge. It has received the call of setting up a group of writers who are united to the magazine not only by bonds of friendship and occasional collaboration, but by the «mission» received from their superiors. 14 Jesuits from 4 Continents compose the group, each of them living in their own country which comprise the Popular Republic of China, Venezuela, Russia, United States, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Israel, Rwanda, Argentina, Australia, and Korea.

This new group within the magazine, emphasizes our international vocation further and allows the magazine to have «watchtowers» scattered around the world from where writers are able to share their point of view on various topics. The work being done will hopefully interpret for the best the world for the Church and the Church for the world, contributing to an open, full, cordial and respectful dialogue. At the time of the Second Vatican Council it was defined as “a dignified, but hard punching magazine.” Today it wants to stay loyal to this definition.

With this group we are able to draw a first map of correspondents and contributing editors from different countries, ages, and experiences. However, the map is neither complete nor definitive, for the journal publishes and will always welcome the contributions of many other Jesuits coming from all around the globe. In the course of the last year we can add to the aforementioned countries, writers from the following nations: Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Cuba, France, Japan, India, Ireland, Fiji, Malta, Portugal, United Kingdom, South Sudan, Switzerland and Zimbabwe. One of the main criteria for collaboration is the familiarity with diverse cultural and linguistic contexts.

Since last year — when the 4000th issue of the magazine came out — the magazine has been published in several languages, concretely in Italian, English, Spanish, French, and Korean.

Read also: 4000th issue of “La civiltà Cattolica” offered to Pope Francis

 

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