In 2003, Pope John Paul II promulgated the apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in Europa. In it he described the anthropological origins of the tendency toward loss of hope afflicting European societies, and the resulting confusion and ensuing challenges that threaten to proliferate in the European milieu.
Inspired by this message of John Paul II, and convinced that Christianity is the essential element informing the fundamental values at the root of European identity, and equally certain that a vibrant Catholicism is an essential contributing element to a renewed vitality in Europe, a group of academics and influential Catholics decided to create the European Institute of Anthropological Studies, Philanthropos, in Fribourg the following year.
Aimed most especially at the youth who are the hope of the Church in Europe, Philanthropos seeks to provide an integrated vision of Christian anthropology in light of the challenges confronting the human person in contemporary society, during a year of university level instruction
“Philanthropos is meant as a response to the call of Pope John Paul II who, facing the diffusion of ideologies in different spheres of society, called Christians to renewed effort in the intellectual realm. As he said: “we must provide our youth a rigorous intellectual formation, so that they come to understand the truth concerning God and man. “
Nicolas BUTTET
Founder of the Philanthropos Institute project, Father Nicolas Buttet is a lawyer by training. Before being ordained a priest, and founding the Fraternity Eucharistein of which he is general superior, he was involved in Swiss Federal politics. He has also been a lecturer in Sociology at the University of Geneva, and a lecturer at the University of Fribourg. He has also collaborated with Cardinal Etchegaray on the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
“In the background of all debates and decisions engaging man, one always finds prior inquiry concerning the nature of the human person. Reasserting the universal truth of the personhood of man constitutes the antidote to all the artificial ideologies that sooner or later are shown to destroy the human person, along with his entire society. It is therefore clear that the promotion a culture of love, truth, and life is necessarily based in a proper understanding of the human person. “
Nicolas MICHEL
President of the Philanthropos Institute, Nicolas Michel is Professor of International Law at the University of Geneva; and professor at The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, and at Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. He has also been Legal Counsel to the Swiss Federal Foreign Ministry and President of the Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law for the Council of Europe ; as well as the Former Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs at the United Nations.
“To know, love and serve the truth of man: this is the objective of Philanthropos. This makes us much more than merely a university teaching institute. At Philanthropos the student’s whole person is nurtured, an entire year is spent discovering the fullness and meaning of one’s particular personal vocation as a man or woman.”
Yves SEMEN
The Director of Philanthropos, Yves Semen, actively participated in the establishment of the institute. Along with his responsibilities as director, he also teaches political philosophy at La Faculté Libre de Philosophie de Paris and speaks and lectures on social ethics in France and Switzerland.
In 2003, Pope John Paul II promulgated the apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in Europa. In it he described the anthropological origins of the tendency toward loss of hope afflicting European societies, and the resulting confusion and ensuing challenges that threaten to proliferate in the European milieu.
“Philanthropos is meant as a response to the call of Pope John Paul II who, facing the diffusion of ideologies in different spheres of society, called Christians to renewed effort in the intellectual realm. As he said: “we must provide our youth a rigorous intellectual formation, so that they come to understand the truth concerning God and man. “
“In the background of all debates and decisions engaging man, one always finds prior inquiry concerning the nature of the human person. Reasserting the universal truth of the personhood of man constitutes the antidote to all the artificial ideologies that sooner or later are shown to destroy the human person, along with his entire society. It is therefore clear that the promotion a culture of love, truth, and life is necessarily based in a proper understanding of the human person. “
“To know, love and serve the truth of man: this is the objective of Philanthropos. This makes us much more than merely a university teaching institute. At Philanthropos the student’s whole person is nurtured, an entire year is spent discovering the fullness and meaning of one’s particular personal vocation as a man or woman.”
