The concept of human dignity in the light of the declaration Dignitas Infinita: towards a relational and dynamic ontology

The recent declaration Dignitas Infinita of the dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has once again emphasised the value of the concept of human dignity, which traditionally the Magisterium interprets in an ontological key, that is, as an intrinsic value of the human person. This contribution will firstly analyse four correlations that emerge from the declaration itself, namely between the concept of dignity and the categories of Imago Dei, relationality, nature and human rights. Secondly, considering in general terms the serious violations of human dignity listed in part four of the document, the centrality of the vulnerability-dignity-care nexus will be highlighted. The investigation carried out allows us to deduce, on the one hand, how the ontological reading does not exclude a dynamic and relational interpretation of this principle; on the other, how respect for human dignity thus understood is ultimately configured in terms of a call to care for vulnerability.