Sts Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Theology will host an international conference titled "Dialogue and Reconciliation" from February 11 to 12, 2026. This prestigious event, held in the Faculty’s Aula (2nd floor), marks two significant milestones: the Curatorium Meeting of the European Society for Catholic Theology and the official opening of the Max Josef Metzger Institute. The conference, which is open to the public, will be inaugurated with a keynote lecture by Dr. David Fernández Puyana, Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the University for Peace (UPEACE) to the United Nations.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
- 19:30 | Opening of the Conference
- 19:45 | David Fernández Puyana (UN University for Peace)
- “The Role of Universities in Building a Culture of Peace and Reconciliation: Diplomacy, Education, and Intercultural Understanding in the 21st Century”
Thursday, February 12, 2026
- 08:30 – 09:00 | Ľubomír Žák (Palacký University Olomouc)
- “Max Josef Metzger: Die aktuelle Bedeutung des Lebens und des geistigen Erbes eines Märtyrers des Dialogs und der Versöhnung”
- 09:00 – 09:30 | Prokop Brož (Auxiliary Bishop of Hradec Králové)
- “‘Selig sind die Sanftmütigen’ – Dialog als der Weg zum neu zu entdeckenden Ursprung”
- 09:30 – 10:00 | Discussion
- 10:00 – 10:30 | Coffee Break
- 10:30 – 11:00 | Orysya Bila (Ukrainian Catholic University)
- “Between Forgiveness and Political Responsibility: Theological Reflections from Ukraine”
- 11:00 – 11:30 | Fáinche Ryan (Trinity College Dublin)
- “Is it always just to tell the truth? The Challenges of Truth-telling on a road toward Peace”
- 11:30 – 12:30 | Discussion
(Lunch Break)
- 15:00 – 15:30 | Mireia Ryšková (Charles University, Prague)
- “Durch Niederlagen zum Sieg. Die Lebensgeschichte des Apostels Paulus im Licht von Philipper 2,6-11”
- 15:30 – 16:00 | Emmanuel Agius (University of Malta)
- “Reconciliation Through Dialogue: Consensus-Building and Democratic Deliberation in the European Bioethical Landscape”
- 16:00 – 16:30 | Discussion
- 16:30 – 17:00 | Gusztáv Kovács (University of Pécs)
- “Theological Perspectives of Dialogue and Reconciliation”
