DRAWING inspiration from his namesake St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis urged people of good will to promote fraternity and friendship through dialogue, in his third encyclical titled “Fratelli Tutti” published on Oct. 4.
The encyclical outlined the Pope’s vision for overcoming the world’s growing divisions, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. It also covered hot-button social issues such as the death penalty, immigration, populism and economic injustice.
“In today’s world, the sense of belonging to a single human family is fading, and the dream of working together for justice and peace seems an outdated utopia. [W]hat reigns is a cool, comfortable and globalized indifference, born of deep disillusionment concealed behind a deceptive illusion: thinking that we are all-powerful while failing to realize that we are all in the same boat,” the Pope said in his 300-page encyclical.
While the Pope was writing his letter, Covid-19 pandemic erupted and exposed humanity’s false securities.
“Aside from the different ways that various countries responded to the crisis, their inability to work together became evident. For all our hyper-connectivity, we witnessed a fragmentation that made it more difficult to resolve problems that affect us all,” the Pope said.
Throwaway world
Former UST vice rector Fr. Virgilio Ojoy, O.P. said people have ironically become more individualized even as they got closer through technology and social media.
“Our dreams of building a world of love and friendship are shattered and seem to be directed towards the opposite direction. The more we are globalized, the more we are individualized and [d]rift away from one another. We are devoid of a shared roadmap [because] each individual, family, group or country has its own grand plans which exclude everyone else,” Ojoy said in a webinar on “Fratelli Tutti” organized by the Dominican Family for Justice and Peace and Care for Creation last Oct. 17.
Echoing Pope Francis’ words, Ojoy said digital media encourages isolation, separation, and fragmentation which have created a “throwaway world.”
“Digital media can be utilized in the manipulation of conscience, democratic processes [a]nd spreading false information to achieve some sinister agenda,” he said.
Political charity
Ojoy echoed the Pope’s call to develop “political charity” that promotes equality and the common good.
“What needs to be developed is political charity [t]hat makes us love the common good, that ensures that everyone partakes of the resources of each country and the rest of the world,” he said.
He called on politicians to not focus on the number of votes drawn but on how much love they have dedicated to their work and how much progress they have achieved for the welfare of the people.
Ojoy added that the Church’s participation in political affairs “involves a constant attention to the common good and a concern for human development.”
Promote universal fraternity
To build social friendship and universal fraternity, Ojoy urged the faithful to fulfill the duty to love [and] develop charity based on the intrinsic value of the other.
“Integral human development has to promote maturity in the moral values in the pursuit of the good. No one should be subjected to the demeaning and dehumanizing tolls of poverty and deprivation,” he said.
Ojoy said the Pontiff’s latest encyclical offers light and hope to millions of people affected by Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Pope observes that this pandemic has shown us that there are people who can put their lives on the line for the safety and protection of others. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, supermarket vendors, garbage collectors, and many ordinary people have shown us that our lives are interwoven. We cannot be saved alone, but with one another, there is great reason to hope,” he said.
On Oct. 3, Pope Francis signed “Fratelli Tutti” at the tomb of St. Francis in Assisi. He is the first pope to sign an encyclical outside of Rome, seven months since the coronavirus pandemic broke out.
The Vatican published the text of the encyclical on Oct. 4 on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.
Fratelli Tutti, which means “All Brothers,” was taken from the writings of St. Francis, whom the Pope described as the “saint of fraternal love.”
The Pontiff said he was inspired by St. Francis’s meeting with Egyptian Sultan Al-Kamil in 1219.
The encyclical is composed of eight chapters, namely, “Dark Clouds Over a Closed World,” A Stranger on the Road,” “Envisaging and Engendering an Open World,” “A Heart Open to the Whole World,” “A Better Kind of Politics,” “Dialogue and Friendship in Society,” “Paths of Renewed Encounter” and “Religions at the Service of Fraternity in Our World.”
In his encyclical’s conclusion, the Pope drew inspiration from non-Catholics such as Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu and Mahatma Gandhi, as well as Blessed Charles de Foucauld and letters from religious groups around the world. With reports from Ma. Alena O. Castillo
