Pope Francis chose to dedicate his latest encyclical to human fraternity, which he has described as the antidote to every crisis.
POPE FRANCIS
“In this sense, I think fraternity is the true solution to the pandemic and to many challenges that affect us. Fraternity and hope are the medicine the world needs today, like the vaccines.”
Fraternity has different applications in the religious, political and professional spheres, and it is up to each person to discover what those are. That's what philosopher Maria Aparecida Ferrari explained during this conference on the “Fratelli Tutti” encyclical organized by the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.
MARIA APARECIDA FERRARI
Philosophy Department, Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
“If people fulfill their specific tasks, professional work and other activities, then we guarantee the political common good. We live fraternally with everyone. To obtain good results, perhaps we have to remember what Pope Francis says: that good intentions alone aren't enough. We must act on them, and this action doesn't depend only on charity or faith. It requires reason, science, commitment and the willingness to take action.”
CRISTIAN MENDOZA
Theology Department, Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
“Whenever the pope challenges the socioeconomic and political world, he does so thinking about the dignity of the person. What does it mean, for believers and people of good will, to be a brother or sister to all? It means being open to all, feeling compassion for all, while simultaneously living out a specific form of charity for all.”
For theologian Cristian Mendoza, the key proposal of the pope's encyclical is to dare to truly see others as brothers and sisters.
Card. Miguel Angel Ayuso also participated in the event. As head of the Vatican department in charge of promoting interreligious dialogue, he is especially familiar with this papal document.
CARD. MIGUEL ANGEL AYUSO
President, Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
“I think Pope Francis is referring to this sense that we live in a sick world in need of the healing power of fraternity. Collaborating to build a better world, a more just world, a world based on a human fraternity that recognizes the importance of working toward the common good, social cohesion, for the defense of the dignity of every human being.”
Due to the pandemic, most people participated online. It's another reminder that distance doesn't prevent us from collaborating to build a better world.
JMB
Translation: CT
