Fratelli tutti and the dialogic spirit of catholic higher education: a reflection on christian humanism and online learning

Abstract

Online and blended learning is now commonplace in educational institutions throughout the world. Alongside its potential for breaking down barriers, a dependence on online approaches runs the risk of dehumanising the educational process. In his encyclical Fratelli tutti, Pope Francis addresses the need for the Church and society to develop a sense of fraternity and solidarity that keeps the human person at the centre of the educational process. The role of the Catholic university in the construction of human fraternity today, is to question how this mission can be addressed in a digitized culture. By utilizing Christian Humanism as a foundation stone for institutional and curricular reform, a fraternal and dialogic spirit of encounter can be sustained.