Gemelli e il riordino degli studi ecclesiastici superiori (1928-1934)

During the thirties of the twentieth century, Gemelli was certainly among the most influential personalities of the Catholic culture in Italy. By virtue of his role as rector of the Catholic University and his close relationship with Pope Pius XI, he was placed in commission for the reform of ecclesiastical studies established at the Sacred Congregation for Seminaries and Universities of the studies, with the task to proceed at the reorganization of courses in theology, philosophy and canon law of the pontifical universities. During the sessions, the discussion resulted in a lively debate, in which Gemelli put forward some proposals for renewal of academic philosophy: the reduction of space allocated to the Neo-Scholastic Thomism and the historical approach to the teaching, direct reading of the texts and the inclusion of ancillary subjects such as biology, psychology, physics. The work of the Commission led to the Apostolic Constitution "Deus scientiarum Dominus ", while in the background of the whole affair left a legacy of years of dilaceration anti-modernist, which also Gemelli tried to find a way 'out.