Contributos da teologia do laicado de Yves Congar para a formação dos leigos no contexto da igreja em Portugal

Abstract

The present dissertation in Theology proposes a reflection on the role of the laity in the Church. Drawing on Yves Congar’s theology of the laity, it problematizes the identity and mission of the laity within the Church. Based on the theological consideration of the participation of the baptized in the triplex munus of Christ (priest, prophet, and king), attention is given to two fundamental dimensions of the face the Church seeks to assume in the third millennium: the sensus fidei and synodality. Such an approach makes it possible to identify the theological foundations upon which new opportunities for the participation and co responsibility of all the baptized faithful in today’s Church can be delineated. Aware of the fundamental and irreplaceable role of the laity in ecclesial life, this study explores the ways in which this role has been recognized, encouraged, and fostered within the context of the Church in Portugal. In this regard, it undertakes an analysis of the documents of the Plenary Assembly of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference between 1967 and 2025, identifying and highlighting the references they contain to the laity and to their formation. Finally, the research seeks to offer a profile of the layperson, drawn from the principal conclusions of the research process.

Date of Award	6 Jan 2026
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Tiago Neto (Supervisor)