An excerpt from the Encyclical Letter Fides et Ratio of Pope John Paul II 56. In brief, there are signs of a widespread distrust of universal and absolute statements, especially among those who think that truth is born of consensus and not of a consonance between intellect and objective reality. In a world subdivided into so many specialized fields, it is not hard to see how difficult it can be to acknowledge the full and ultimate meaning of life, which has traditionally been the goal of philosophy. It is faith that stirs reason to move beyond all isolation and willingly to run risks so that it may attain whatever is beautiful, good and true.
Faith thus becomes the convinced and convincing advocate of reason.