Papers Session: Nostra Aetate at 60 Abstract for Online Program Book (maximum 150 words) This paper examines the tripartite dialogical paradigm of Church–dialogue–Christ, first established by Nostra Aetate at the Second Vatican Council, that informs the Catholic Church's approach to interreligious dialogue today. A study of Nostra Aetate and subsequent magisterial documents on dialogue reveals that the Church’s understanding of itself as missionary affects its approach to dialogue, and the content of this dialogue is determined by the Church’s understanding of Jesus Christ, who is both the Word professed in dialogue as well as the source of this very mission. Moreover, as the universalizing message of Nostra Aetate 'broke open' each point of this paradigm to the world, I argue that this paradigm of universal Church–universal dialogue–universal Christ still maintains efficacy, still speaks truth, in our current pluralistic context. Authors Alaina Keller ak1978@georgetown.edu View
