Abstract
The paper will address the topic of conference from the perspective of theological anthropology. In the face of the challenges of contemporary Europe, the paper will reflect on the question of who is human being. It will critically draw especially on the teaching of Pope Francis. In Fratelli tutti Francis relates the questioning of who is human being to the concrete political, economic and ecological challenges of our time. He constructs a kind contextual anthropology. The parable of the Good Samaritan, so the Pope, "speaks to us of an essential and often forgotten aspect of our common humanity: we were created for a fulfilment that can only be found in love. We cannot be indifferent to suffering; we cannot allow anyone to go through life as an outcast. Instead, we should feel indignant, challenged to emerge from our comfortable isolation and to be changed by our contact with human suffering" (FT 68). These "aspects of our common humanity", e.g. a political dimension of humanity will be further explored.
After reviewing the existing conceptualizations of Francis' anthropology, I will focus in particular on the reception of its political dimension. The relatively extensive literature allows a preliminary assessment of the significance of Francis' anthropology. My own intention is then to outline its relevance in contemporary Europe, especially in relation to economic disparities, the problem of the search for identity and the demand for a change of lifestyle in view of the climatic crisis.