"At first, it was perceived as a liberation: liberation from the father-master figure, from the father as a representative of the law that is imposed from the outside". "Sometimes it seems fathers no longer know what place they should occupy in the family and how to educate children. So, when in doubt, they abstain, they withdraw and neglect their responsibilities, perhaps taking refuge in an unlikely relationship 'on par' with their children". Even the civil community neglects or badly exercises its responsibility towards young people, leaving them "orphans of safe streets to play in, orphans of teachers to trust, orphans of ideals”.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The "father figure", which should propose ideals and be a positive role model to children is often absent in our society, both within the family and in civil community which often neglects or badly exercises its responsibility towards young people, leaving them "orphans of safe streets to play on, orphans of teachers to trust, orphans of ideals that warm one's heart, orphans of values and hopes to support them every day. They are filled with idols but their heart is stolen, they are pushed to dream of fun and pleasure, but they are not given work, they are deluded with the god of money, and denied true riches".

Pope Francis dedicated his catechesis for the general audience today to the father figure and in particular its absence, thus resuming his reflection on the family, after last week's break when he dedicated his audience to his visit to Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

To eight thousand people present in the Hall of hearings, the Pope spoke of the absence of the father, taking the view that the word father is "more than any other dear to us Christians, because it is the name by which Jesus taught us to call God 'Father'. The meaning of the name has received a new depth from the way Jesus used it to turn to God and show his special relationship with Him. The mystery blessed intimacy of God, Father, Son and Spirit, revealed by Jesus, is the heart of our Christian faith".

"Father - he continued - " is a word known by all - a universal word. It indicates a fundamental relationship whose reality is as ancient as man's history. Today, however, we have come to the point of affirming that ours is a "fatherless society." In other words, the figure of the father, particularly in our Western culture, is symbolically absent, vanished, removed. Initially it was perceived as a liberation: liberation from the father-master, from the father as a representative of the law imposed from outside, from the father as censor of the happiness of the children and obstacle to the emancipation and autonomy of young people. In fact, at times  authoritarianism reigned in some homes, in certain cases, in fact, it was oppressive," parents that treated their children as servants, not respecting the personal needs of their growth; fathers who did not help them to undertake their path with freedom, but it is not easy to educate a child with freedom. Fathers that do not help them to assume their responsibilities to build their future and that of society: this is certainly not a good attitude. However, as it often happens, we pass from one extreme to another.".

"The problem of our days - he continued -  does not seem to be so much the invasive presence of fathers, but rather their absence, their hiding. Fathers sometimes are so concentrated on themselves and on their work, and at times on their own individual fulfilment, that they even forget the family. And they leave the little ones and young people alone. Already as Bishop in Buenos Aires, I perceived the sense of orphan-hood that youth live today. And I often asked the fathers if they played with their children. And the answer was bad, eh! In the majority of cases {they said]: "But I can't because I have so much work ..." And the father was absent from that child who was growing up. And he did not play with him, he did not spend time with him. ".

"Now - he added - in this common course of reflection on the family, I would like to say to all the Christian communities that we must be more attentive: the absence of the paternal figure in the life of little ones and young people produces gaps and wounds which can also be very grave. And, in fact, the deviances of children and of adolescents can in good part be traced to this absence, to the lack of examples and of authoritative guides in their daily life - to the lack of closeness, to the lack of love on the part of fathers. The sense of orphan-hood that so many young people live is deeper than we think. They are orphans, but within the family, because the fathers are often absent, also physically, from home but above all because, when they are home, they do not behave as fathers, they do not have a dialogue with their children. They do not fulfil their educational task; they do not give to their children - with their example accompanied by words --, those principles, those values, those rules of life that they need, just as much as they need bread. The educational quality of the paternal presence is all the more necessary the more the father is constrained by work to be far from home. At times it seems that fathers do not know well what place to occupy in the family and how to educate the children. And then, in doubt, they abstain, they withdraw and neglect their responsibility, perhaps taking refuge in an improbable relation "on par" with the children. However, it is true that you must be a companion to your child but without forgetting that you are the father. However, if you only behave as a companion on a par with your child, you will not do the child any good".

"However in this also, the civil community with its institutions has a responsibility, which we can say is paternal, towards young people, a responsibility that sometimes is neglected or exercised badly. It also often leaves orphans of the street that we are sure to come across, orphans of teachers they can trust, orphans of ideals that warm the heart, orphans of values and of hopes that sustain them daily. They are filled perhaps with idols, but they are not given work; they are deceived with the god of money and are denied the true riches. And now it will do well to all, to fathers and to children, to hear again the promise Jesus made to his disciples: "I will not leave you orphans: (John 14:18). He is, in fact, the Way to follow, the Teacher to listen to, the Hope that the world can change, that love can overcome hatred, that there can be a future of fraternity and peace for all".

"One of you might say to me: "But, Father, you have been too negative today. You have spoken only of the absence of fathers, of what happens when fathers are not close to their children." It's true. I wanted to stress this because next Wednesday I will continue this catechesis bringing to light the beauty of paternity. Therefore I chose to begin from the dark to come to the light. May the Lord help us to understand these things well. Thank you!".  

 

 

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