Uzhhorod, 24 June 2025

The International Academy of Theological Sciences, expressing solidarity with the position of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences as affirmed in its official statement published in the Vatican on 19 June 2025 (Vatican News), which emphasizes the importance of academic freedom and the pursuit and expression of truth, considers it necessary to draw attention to a number of critical challenges currently facing modern science, as well as pre-tertiary and higher education.

The Statement of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences is a significant document that addresses profound moral, social, and scientific issues — from the persecution of scholars who speak the truth to the systematic erosion of trust in science and the politicization of scientific activity. It rightly emphasizes that academic freedom is not only a prerequisite for progress, but also a condition for preserving peace, human dignity, well-being, and global cooperation.

• In this regard, the International Academy of Theological Sciences (Ukraine):
  

1. Expresses solidarity with the Statement of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, supports its main provisions, and shares its appeal to society, policymakers, educators, scholars, journalists, religious leaders, and international institutions regarding the urgent need to protect academic freedom, uphold academic responsibility, and ensure the dignified status of scientists and educators in society.

2. Draws attention to pressing issues that require an immediate response and action from governments, the international community, and civil society:

• the need to create real conditions for the independent, professional, and safe functioning of researchers;
• the elimination of bureaucratic and corrupt barriers in the system of licensing and accreditation of pre-tertiary and higher education institutions, in particular through the implementation of digital, transparent, non-bureaucratic, and corruption-free procedures;
• the obligation to apply clearly defined, reasonably formulated, and transparently enforced criteria for the evaluation and accreditation of scientific institutions, without the creation of unjustified obstacles or blockages;
• adherence to the principles of free development, international integration, and the elimination of linguistic, political, and national barriers in the fields of science and education;
• the unconditional implementation of open digitalization in pre-tertiary, higher education, and science, both at the national and international levels.
  Emphasizes that without open, free, and integrated development of pre-tertiary, higher education, and science, the advancement of humanity is impossible. Only under conditions of freedom of thought, intellectual openness, academic integrity, and mutual respect can sustainable progress be achieved in the fields of technology, human development, spiritual growth, and the formation of social ethics.
  

3. Emphasizes that without open, free, and integrated development of pre-tertiary, higher education, and science, the advancement of humanity is impossible. Only under conditions of freedom of thought, intellectual openness, academic integrity, and mutual respect can sustainable progress be achieved in the fields of technology, human development, spiritual growth, and the formation of social ethics.

4. It is emphasized that the issue of academic freedom concerns not only individual countries but represents a global challenge. A threat to scientific development comes not only from the overt repression of authoritarian regimes, but also from excessive bureaucratization, corruption, professional incompetence, and formalism, which are present even in countries with formally democratic institutions. All of these factors hinder, complicate, or even entirely block progress in the work of researchers, academic scientific institutions and collectives, and, in particular, in the processes of licensing and accreditation of educational programs in the field of pre-tertiary and higher education, which in turn obstructs the assurance of both scientific and educational quality.

The global scientific community must be protected, and its role recognized as one of the key forces in addressing the modern challenges of humanity — including the eradication of poverty, the climate crisis, pandemics, information manipulation, and the violent politicization of knowledge.

5. Calls upon all governments, international organizations, academic institutions, scientific bodies and collectives, pre-tertiary and higher education institutions, civil society organizations, religious bodies, and churches to engage in a united and solidarity-driven effort to create a global space of freedom, dignity, and open science — free from pressure, censorship, political persecution, formalism, and discrimination. Such a space must ensure:

• freedom of scientific thought and the pursuit of truth;
• protection of the rights of researchers and educators;
• free exchange of knowledge between countries and cultures;
• access to digital scientific platforms for all regions of the world;
• mutual recognition of academic qualifications and simplified integration into the global educational and scientific space.

6. The International Academy of Theological Sciences affirms its readiness to participate as an expert contributor in international initiatives aimed at shaping and strengthening a global space of open, honest, morally responsible, and spiritually oriented science and education. The Academy is prepared to engage in the implementation of concrete actions — through partnership forums, analytical platforms, information campaigns, public statements, and the development of inter-academic cooperation.

We believe that only in truth, freedom, and love for one’s neighbor is true knowledge born — knowledge that serves God, humanity, and the world.

Respectfully,

Viktor BED,
President of the International Academy of Theological Sciences,
Doctor of Theology, Doctor of Law, Professor, Academician