DIALOP

DIALOP Transversal Dialogue Project LOGO

DIALOP (Transversal Dialogue Project) is a Marxist group founded after a meeting in 2014 with Pope Francis to "foster dialogue" with Christianity.

About

"DIALOP was founded in 2014 after a meeting between Pope Francis, the Vienese leftist politician Walter Baier, former Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras, and Franz Kronreif of the Focolare Movement, a spiritual and social renewal founded in 1943 — and approved by the Church in 1962 — to promote universal brotherhood and to foster dialogue between different religious groups."

History

Verbatim from the DIALOP website:

"During the private audience that Pope Francis granted to two left politicians Alexis Tsipras and Walter Baier as well as Franz Kronreif of the Focolare Movement on September 18th 2014, the conversation focused on the environmental crisis and the worldwide social crisis. At the end of that audience Pope Francis called the visitors to launch a transversal dialogue, capable of involving the broadest strata of society and above all of the youth. He said: “No world power today is able to solve the crucial problems of the world alone.” And Tsipras added: “We agreed on the need to continue the dialogue between the European left and the Christian church,” he said. “There is a need to create an ecumenical alliance against poverty, inequalities, against the logic that markets and profits are above people.”

From that first meeting many more followed between intellectuals, scholars and students of the Christian and of the Left side.

RESET

Verbatim from the DIALOP website:

"The RESET project aims to advance the creation of new, attractive and sustainable European narratives by elaborating an academic curriculum of transversal social ethics to be tested by the partnering universities and then offered to other educational institutions.

Three different approaches – Christian social teaching, Marxian critical theory and feminisms – try to achieve a differentiated consensus.

Joint Position Paper on the Christian-Socialist Dialogue

Excerpt from the DIALOP website written by Michael Brie and Bernhard Callebaut:

"...we, representatives of the Catholic world and the European left, concerned about the ecological crisis and disturbed by social injustice, and encouraged by a conversation with Pope Francis, decided to initiate a dialogue between Marxists and Catholic Christians. ‘In search of a common future in solidarity. Only together can we be saved.’"

[...]

"Only together will we be saved". This may sound like a slogan, but it is it is the starting point of the dialogue of Christians and Socialists, which embodies a double meaning. It signifies that there is something from which we have to be saved, and that it can be done only through a common effort. This starting point of our joint efforts was present from the beginning of our dialogue as exponents of the Catholic world and those from the variegated world of Socialism, particularly from the European Left. It is likewise a dialogue that is linked to a direct invitation made by Pope Francis..."

'Pope Francis Calls for Greater Dialogue and Cooperation Between Christians, Marxists'

'Pope Francis Calls for Greater Dialogue and Cooperation Between Christians, Marxists'

Pope Francis and DIALOP meeting January 10, 2024

The conversation of the 15 participants [7 Marxists and 8 Christians] with Pope Francis

On January 10, 2024, Pope Francis met with a delegation of Marxists from a group he founded with others in 2014 called DIALOP (Transversal Dialogue Project)":,,

Pope Francis' speech to DIALOP Marxists:

Dear friends, good morning!

I am pleased to welcome you, the representatives of DIALOP, who for many years have been committed to promoting the common good through dialogue between Socialists/Marxists and Christians. A fine programme!

A Latin American writer once wrote that people have two eyes, one of flesh and one of glass. With the first, they see what they look at; with the other, what they dream of. Never lose the ability to dream! Today, in a world divided by war and polarization, we run the risk of losing the ability to dream. We Argentines say, “no te arrugues”, meaning “don’t back off”. This is my invitation to you as well: Don’t back off, don’t give up, and don’t stop dreaming of a better world. For it is in imagination, the ability to dream, that intelligence, intuition, experience and historical memory come together to make us be creative, take chances and run risks. How many times over the years have great dreams of freedom and equality, dignity and fraternity, reflecting God’s own dream, produced breakthroughs and progress. With this in mind, I would like to commend to you three attitudes that I consider helpful for your efforts: the courage to break the mould, concern for the less fortunate and support for the rule of law.

First, to have the courage to break the mould, to be open, in dialogue, to new ways. At a time marked by conflicts and divisions at various levels, let us not lose sight of what can still be done to turn the tide. Instead of rigid approaches that divide, let us cultivate, with open hearts, discussion and listening. And not exclude anyone at the political, social or religious level, so that the contribution of each can, in its concrete distinctiveness, receive a positive reception in the processes of change to which our future is linked.

Second, concern for the less fortunate. The measure of a civilization can be seen by how the most vulnerable are treated – let us not forget how the great dictatorships, we think of Nazism, discarded and killed those who were most vulnerable -: the poor, the unemployed, the homeless, immigrants, the exploited, and all those whom the culture of waste turns into refuse. This is one of the most terrible things. A politics that is truly at the service of humanity cannot let itself be dictated to by finance and market mechanisms. Solidarity is not only a moral virtue, but also a requirement of justice, which calls for correcting the distortions and purifying the intentions of unjust systems, not least through radical changes of perspective in the sharing of challenges and resources among individuals and among peoples. That is why I like to call those engaged in this field “social poets,” for poetry is about creativity, and here it is a question of putting creativity at the service of society, in order to make it ever more humane and fraternal. Do not be afraid of poetry, poetry and creativity. Let us not forget this ability to dream.

Finally, the rule of law. Everything said thus far calls for commitment to combating the scourge of corruption, abuses of power and lack of respect for law. It is only in honesty and integrity that healthy relationships can be established and that we can cooperate confidently and effectively in building a better future.

Dear friends, I thank you for your commitment to dialogue. There is always a great need for dialogue, so do not be afraid! I pray for you and I ask that you be granted wisdom and courage in your work for a more just and peaceful world. May the Gospel of Jesus Christ always inspire and enlighten your efforts and activity. Thank you.

Coordination Team

As of January 17, 2024:

• Luisa Sello – Focolare Movement
• Cornelia Hildebrandt – transform!europe
• Jose Manuel Pureza – CES Coimbra
• Angelina Giannopoulou – transform!europe
• Franz Kronreif – Focolare Movement
• Petra Steinmair-Posel – KPH-ES Innsbruck

Scientific Board

As of January 17, 2024:

• Walter Baier – European Left
• Micha Brie – Scientific Board Rosa Luxemburg Foundation
• Bernard Callebaut – University Sophia
• Piero Coda – Secretary general of the International Theological Commission
• Franz Kronreif – Focolare Movement
• Juan Garcia Gutierrez – University UNED Madrid
• Michael Lowy – Marxist sociologist and philosopher
• Wolfgang Palaver – University Innsbruck
• Jose Manuel Pureza – CES Coimbra
• Petra Steinmair-Posel – KPH-ES Innsbruck
• Daniela Ropelato – University Sophia