Dialogue in the thought of Karol Wojtyła - the Polish perspective

Abstract

Karol Wojtyła, better known as St John Paul II, has been often called the Pope of Dialogue. In numerous speeches, he addressed the topics of ecumenical, interreligious, and intercultural dialogue. However, nowhere has it been found where he described the methodology of dialogue, and there is not one coherent document where he outlines how to achieve peace through dialogue. Nevertheless, a great many of Wojtyła’s texts, supported by the experience of his life, allow for a presentation of a hypothesis that suggests the possibility of finding a coherent, yet seemingly unobvious concept of this issue in the collection of his reflections and ideas. This work, which is a synthesis of the teaching of dialogue, also has its practical purpose. My interest lies in whether the concept of dialogue, which is present in Karol Wojtyła's thoughts, can be used as a proposal of implementation that can change social relationships, and therefore become one of the key components of innovation, although still undeveloped. I examine the possibility of being able to justify the fact that the theological teachings, which form the basis of Karol Wojtyła's method of dialogue, bring their own value to the developing directions of innovation.