Véritable théologoumène, l’imago Dei apparait comme un thème majeur de la théologie qui permet d’élaborer une anthropologie théologique. Aussi l’imago Dei a pu connaitre plusieurs interprétations dans l’histoire. Ainsi est-il est possible d’identifier deux grandes catégories d’anthropologies théologiques dans le christianisme contemporain : une anthropologie dite « substantialiste » et une anthropologie dite« relationnelle ». Selon l’anthropologie théologique que l’on rencontre le plus fréquemment, l’homme est défini par une propriété qui lui est commune avec Dieu comme l’intelligence ou la faculté d’aimer. Le but de cette thèse est de montrer, à travers le prisme de l’anthropologie relationnelle sans concession de Jean Ansaldi qui interroge sans cesse la légitimité même de l’imago Dei comme fondement biblique d’une anthropologie chrétienne, que cette anthropologie qui semble la plus classique n’est en fait qu’une parenthèse dans l’histoire du christianisme qui, de l’écriture de la Bible jusqu’à la théologie contemporaine, perçoit l’être humain avant tout comme vis-à-vis de Dieu, altérité représentant le Tout Autre, être qui est relation comme Dieu est en lui-même relation. / Theologoumenon true, imago Dei appears as a major theme of theology that allows to develop a theologica anthropology. Imago Dei also could know several interpretations in history. Thus it is possible to identify two broad categories of theological anthropology in contemporary Christianity : a so-called "substantialist" anthropology and called "relational" anthropology. According to theological anthropology that the most frequently encountered, man is defined by a property that is common with God as the intelligence or the ability to love. The aim of this thesis is to show, through the prism of relational anthropology uncompromising Jean Ansaldi who constantly questions the legitimacy of imago Dei as a biblical foundation of a Christian anthropology, anthropology seems that the classic is actually a parenthesis in the history of Christianity, writing of the Bible to contemporary theology sees the human being as primarily vis-à-vis God alterity while representing the Other, which is being relationship as God is in himself relationship.

The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order, presuppose Roman Catholicism, but are today made by many who are not Catholics. Moreover, even Roman Catholics who make Ignatian Exercises often are not spontaneously inclined to obey Roman ecclesiastical authority. Neither avoiding the ecclesial dimension nor an authoritarian ‘follow the rules!’ provides spiritual directors with adequate orientation when working with issues at Church frontiers. This dissertation in pastoral theology seeks to navigate a middle position by moving beyond the individualism and the a-historical assumptions of the existing relevant literature. The dissertation remains close to the Ignatian primary sources, in the awareness that the Ignatian tradition needs to be constantly updated and that the contemporary ecclesial frontiers are not fully foreseen in the canonical texts. The main hypothesis is that a notion is needed of a ‘pilgrim Church’ in space and time, with Christians who are related to one another in a deep and fundamental sense. The minor hypothesis is that the individual needs to be open towards and prepared to learn from the Roman Catholic Church, in order to understand and to be profoundly moved by these exercises, but not necessarily to become a Roman Catholic. Having presented and discussed various approaches in the writings of twentieth-century and recent thinkers, this thesis puts forward its own ecclesiological position informed by Charles Taylor, Hans-Georg Gadamer and Karl Rahner. The aim is to take Ignatian studies forward by combining relational anthropology, hermeneutics and a sacramental understanding of the Church, and to apply this synthesis to the practice of giving Ignatian Exercises. The final chapter discusses a selection of cases in the light of my ecclesiological position. The synthesis and application claim originality.