An encyclical on fraternity and social friendship
SAJI P MATHEW OFM
Pope Francis’ new encyclical comes with the much needed unequivocal confirmation of a NO to war; and a clear call to end death penalty. It urges all to cross borders of every difference; and shun globalized indifference which leads to poverty, discrimination and conflicts.
It provides concrete ways to build a more just and fraternal world in ordinary relationships, in social life, politics and governance. Pope Francis borrows the title from the Admonitions of Saint Francis of Assisi, who used these words to address his brothers.
Perhaps that explains why the title gives the impression of a document which is meant for a male-only world.
Pope Francis points out that the days of the pandemic has taught us the stress and anguish of living in isolation; and he strongly advocates that time has come to dream of a single human family in which we are all brothers and sisters.
The encyclical begins with the Dark Clouds over a Closed World. It holds a mirror to the many distortions of the contemporary times. The document continues to say that ideas and
principles like, democracy, freedom, justice etc. have taken a beating; and evils like, racism, poverty, unemployment, the disparity of rights, human trafficking, organ trafficking are going unchecked.
Pope, also sounds an alarm against a culture of walls that favours the proliferation of organized crime, fuelled by fear and loneliness.
Pope responds to the above with a glowing example of the Good Samaritan, whom he calls a stranger on the road. We are all called – just like the Good Samaritan – to become neighbours to others by overcoming prejudices, personal interests, historic and cultural barriers.
The document challenges to build a culture of love by going outside the self; and live the art of encounter with everyone, even with the world’s peripheries and with original peoples, because each of us can learn something from others. No one is useless and no one is expendable.
The book ends with an appeal “In my fraternal meeting, which I gladly recall, with the Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, we resolutely declared that religions must never incite war, hateful attitudes, hostility and extremism, nor must they incite violence or the shedding of blood. God, the Almighty, has no need to be defended by anyone and does not want his name to be used to terrorize people.” Are religions listening? Are Christians listening? Is the Church listening?∎
