Pope: Pray that those who govern love and serve their people and are humble
Vatican City ( AsiaNews) - " A good Catholic becomes involved in politics," participates as best he or she can, gives "the best" of his or herself: " ideas, suggestions , their best, but above their best is prayer" for those in government, so they may love their people, be humble , listen to different opinions, to choose the best path.
The Gospel of the centurion who, with humility and confidence, asks for the healing of his servant; and the letter of Saint Paul to Timothy with the invitation to pray for those who govern, inspired the Pope to "reflect on the service of authority."
Vatican Radio reports that Pope Francis said, those who govern "have to love their people," because "a leader who doesn't love, cannot govern - at best they can discipline, they can give a little bit of order, but they can't govern."
The example of David, "how he loved his people," so much that after the sin of
the census he asked the Lord not to punish the people, but [to punish] him. These,
then, are "the two virtues of a leader": love for the people and humility. "You can't govern without loving the people and without humility! And every
man, every woman who has to take up the service of government, must ask
themselves two questions: 'Do I love my people in order to serve them better? Am
I humble and do I listen to everybody, to diverse opinions in order to choose
the best path.' If you don't ask those questions, your governance will not be
good. The man or woman who governs - who loves his people is a humble man or
woman."
From another point of view, Saint Paul exhorts those who are governed to lift
up prayers for those who have authority, so that they might be able to lead a
calm and peaceful life. Citizens cannot be indifferent to politics. "None of us can say, 'I have nothing to do with this, they govern. . . .' No,
no, I am responsible for their governance, and I have to do the best so that
they govern well, and I have to do my best by participating in politics
according to my ability. Politics, according to the Social Doctrine of the
Church, is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common
good. I cannot wash my hands, eh? We all have to give something!"
There is a tendency, the Pope observed, to only speak ill of leaders, and to
mutter about "things that don't go well." "You listen to the television and
they're beating [them] up, beating [them] up; you read the papers and their
beating [them] up. . . ." He continued, "Yes, maybe the leader is a sinner, as
David was, but I have to work with my opinions, with my words, even with my
corrections" because we all have to participate for the common good. It is not
true that Catholics should not meddle in politics:
"'A good Catholic doesn't meddle in politics.' That's not true. That is not a
good path. A good Catholic meddles in politics, offering the best of himself,
so that those who govern can govern. But what is the best that we can offer to
those who govern? Prayer! That's what Paul says: "Pray for all people, and for
the king and for all in authority." "But Father, that person is wicked, he
should go to hell. . . ." Pray for him, pray for her, that they can govern
well, that they can love their people, that they can serve their people, that
they can be humble." A Christian who does not pray for those who govern is not
a good Christian! "But Father, how will I pray for that person, a person who
has problems. . . ." "Pray that that person might convert!"
So, the Pope concluded, we give the best of ourselves, our ideas, suggestions,
the best, but above all the best is prayer. Let us pray for our leaders, that
they might govern well, that they might advance our homeland, might lead our
nation and even our world forward, for the sake of peace and of the common good".
01/05/2020 17:00
04/04/2020 15:09