The Church as an agent of welcome and support:

a multidisciplinary analysis of the ecclesiastical role in responding to social challenges over the centuries

Abstract

In the face of the multiple calamities plaguing contemporary society, especially those seen in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Church has reaffirmed its role as an agent of assistance and humanization. More than a bastion of hope grounded in faith, the Church reveals itself as a space of concrete support, offering food, psychological, legal, and labor support, among other forms of assistance, as evidenced in academic literature. In this sense, this study proposes a panoramic and historical approach to the various manifestations of the Church’s diaconal role over the centuries, analyzing its welfare work from antiquity to the contemporary era, marked by the advancement of  information technology. Through qualitative bibliographical research, the aim is to demonstrate the relevance of the Church in constructing a religious and theological reality that, beyond the development of the faith of believers and non-believers, fosters increasingly structured social engagement. At the end of the article, the work of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God is given as a more concrete example as a case study of contemporary practice. The results broadly indicate that, throughout history, the Church has played a fundamental role in promoting health, education, employment, and personal development, consolidating its position as an institution attentive to local demands and social transformation.