Pope: the pandemic can give rise to a worldwide aspiration to fraternity
In a video message to the 65th Religious Education Congress organised by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Francis states that there is a need for a community that can support us, that can help us and in which we help each other to look forward, to a tomorrow in which we will have to “act in the Samaritan’s style”, that is, by “letting myself be struck by what I see.”
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – The pandemic has led to the recognition of the dignity of every person and now “we can resurrect a worldwide aspiration for fraternity among everyone,” said Pope Francis in a video message to the participants in the 65th Religious Education Congress organised by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which continues until Sunday.
The pontiff went on to say that “We need a community that supports us, that helps us and in which we help each other to look forward” to a tomorrow in which we will have to “act in the Samaritan’s style,” that is, by “letting myself be struck by what I see.”
In the message, in Spanish, Francis notes that “the many testimonies of generous and free love” that we witnessed during the pandemic “have left an indelible trace on minds and also the social fabric,” teaching “how much closeness, care, accompaniment and sacrifice are necessary to fuel fraternity.”
From a crisis, “we come out better or worse, but we never come out the same,” said Francis, because “In crises everyone reveals their heart, their solidity, mercy, greatness or littleness. Crises place us in front of the need to choose.”
In order to build the future after the pandemic, knowing “that suffering will change me”, and that the suffering of others requires my involvement, the Pope said that “we need everyone’s commitment, strength and dedication.”
“We must act in the Samaritan’s style, which involves letting myself be struck by what I see, knowing that suffering will change me, that I must commit myself to the suffering of others.”
Francis mentioned that today marks the 50th anniversary of Youth Day in Los Angeles, happy about the “long and fruitful road” of the two initiatives, which were forced to take place online this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For him, the theme chosen for the Congress, “Proclaim the promise!” is very much pertinent at this “time of crisis”.
In this regard, Francis explained that “we need to proclaim and remember that we have God's promise and that God always keeps his promises.”
Quoting Fratelli Tutti, he adds that “every woman and man, and every new generation, brings the promise of new relational, intellectual, cultural and spiritual energies.”
In particular, Francis calls on young people to hope for “a reality that is rooted in the depths of the human being”.
“Dreams,” he added, “must be built together. Let us dream as a single human family, as fellow travellers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth, which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of our beliefs and convictions, each of us with our own voice, all of us brothers and sisters.”
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