Pope: Church’s social doctrine, a 'compass' for the care of mankind and creation
In his Message for the World Day of Peace 2021, Pope Francis invites the world to follow a ““grammar” of care: commitment to promoting the dignity of each human person, solidarity with the poor and vulnerable, the pursuit of the common good and concern for protection of creation." A religious proposal faced with a situation in which a "culture of indifference, waste and confrontation" dominates. The social doctrine of the Church also demands attention to the poor and emphasizes the universal destination of goods. Families, schools, religions must educate by drawing inspiration from the principles of social doctrine in order to impress a “a more humane future” to "the process of globalization."
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The principles of the Church's social doctrine are a "compass" for the entire international community to overcome the " climate, food, the economy and migration” crisis facing the planet. These principles are the "’grammar’ of care: commitment to promoting the dignity of each human person, solidarity with the poor and vulnerable, the pursuit of the common good and concern for protection of creation" (n. 6).
This is the proposal that Pope Francis makes in the Message for the World Day of Peace 2021, entitled "A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace ". It is offered "to Heads of State and Government, leaders of International Organizations, spiritual leaders and followers of the different religions, and to men and women of good will " (n. 1).
The Christian characteristics addressed to all is reinforced by a presentation of the biblical and historical roots of "care": from the book of Genesis, in which God makes man the "guardian" of the garden of Eden and expects Cain to be the "guardian" of his brother Abel; to Jesus Christ, who "gave the ultimate proof of his care for us by offering himself on the cross to set us free from the slavery of sin and death" (n. 4); through the history of the Church, which generated "forces at the service of Christian charity", creating "many institutions for the relief of every human need: hospitals, poor houses, orphanages, foundling homes, shelters for traveler." (No. 5).
Some may be surprised that the Pope, usually so attentive and respectful of the mentality of the world, "allows himself" to propose a path that is so evidently "Christian", without mediation. I believe that this courage (the parrhesia, often cited by Francis) is now necessary given the bitter situation in which the world finds itself. A world in which, "alongside all these testimonies of love and solidarity, we have also seen a surge in various forms of nationalism, racism and xenophobia, and wars and conflicts that bring only death and destruction in their wake ", and a “culture of indifference, waste and confrontation" dominates (n. 2).
It is important to propose the religious dimension when addressing the world's problems because without a God who cares for man and creation, we human beings create imbalances: my well-being against yours, the life of a nation against the death of other; the safeguarding of man against that of creation. On this last aspect, the Message seems to make one correction: the dignity of the person first and then care for creation (n. 6). Often observes have spoken of the "ecological pope", who seems to side with environmentalists who want to save the rainforests by eliminating man (with war, euthanasia, abortion, laws, ...). In this Message, the religious dignity of man is also the starting point for the protection of creation. The pope defines what he terms the "grammar" of care in stages in sequence: "commitment to promoting the dignity of each human person, solidarity with the poor and vulnerable, the pursuit of the common good and concern for protection of creation" (ib.).
The Message also suggests a correction to the nebula of the traditionalist Catholic world, which often grumbles because Pope Francis "talks too much about the poor" and "undermines the rights to private property". Instead, the Christian proposal of the Church's social doctrine is clear. Francis cites the Fathers of the Church and their condemnation of "greed" against the universal destination of goods; the principles of solidarity and fraternity; the "seeing the other ... as our neighbour" (ib.).
Faced with the resistance in the world towards a "Global Fund", to be " ith the money spent on weapons and other military expenditures, in order to permanently eliminate hunger and contribute to the development of the poorest countries ", the pope asks everyone (families, schools, religions, ...) to educate in these social principles in order to impress “a more humane future” to "the process of globalization” (n. 7).
And he concludes: "At a time like this, when the barque of humanity, tossed by the storm of the current crisis, struggles to advance towards a calmer and more serene horizon, the “rudder” of human dignity and the “compass” of fundamental social principles can enable us together to steer a sure course"(n. 9).
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22/08/2017 17:50
