Yves Congar’s ecclesiological paradigms in the ministry of Bishop Pierre Claverie

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to present and investigate how Yves Congar’s ecclesiological paradigms influenced Pierre Claverie during his studies at Le Saulchoir, in his ministry in Algeria as a Dominican and later as Bishop of Oran in a post-revolution and Islamic milieu. The literature review method is used through a wide spectrum of books, articles, journals, as well as a selection of Pierre Claverie’s letters, homilies and interviews related to this topic. The first chapter deals with Le Saulchoir as the locus of formation for both Congar and Claverie, albeit in different times, where they read Thomistic philosophy and theology. This formation would eventually lead them to appreciate the essential nature and the vision of the Church. The latter is focused upon in the second chapter through an overview of ecclesiological paradigms that were fundamental for Congar and later concretised by Claverie in his ministry in an inter-religious ambiance. The crux of these paradigms is reached in the third chapter which underlines how inter-religious dialogue can be the means of encounter with the other. Eventually, it is martyrdom that marks Claverie as a luminous illustration of discipleship for Christians, living in a post-modern world, a testimony to their faith in their journey towards a synodal Church.