The non-place of theology: Michel de Certeau and Francis in dialogue with contemporary Latin America

Abstract

In this article, we seek to highlight the relevance of Michel de Certeau's thought for contemporary theology, particularly in the Latin American context and in dialogue with the teachings of Pope Francis. Based on the category of theological non-place, inspired by mysticism, three central contributions of Certeau's are highlighted: his proposal for a theology at the frontier, open to interdisciplinary dialogue; his vindication of mystical language as an epistemological opening; and his recovery of everyday life as a space for revelation and cultural creativity. These elements are related to the theological reception of the Second Vatican Council, the methodological reflections of Giuseppe Colombo and Bernard Lonergan, and the teachings of Francis in Evangelii Gaudium, Gaudete et Exsultate, Laudato Si', and Fratelli Tutti. It is argued that both Certeau and Francis agree on restoring to theology a dynamism that closely links it to the life of peoples, popular religiosity, and the historical processes of justice, fraternity, and interculturality. Finally, it is shown how this convergence offers fruitful keys for a mystical Latin American theology that is contextualized and committed to current social transformations.