…And The Word Became Fraternity

THE TIME of Christmas is coming closer. This year might be a different one in most of the world, less noisy feasting and less tumultuous gatherings due to the Corona virus. Maybe more like the first Christmas with more silence and possibility of contemplating the mystery of this humble little Child, King of peace, offered to the whole of humanity. Jesus comes as the Light of the world. He fulfils our ultimate desires of fraternity for a wounded world where dark holes of despair might seem to prevail. Christ, however, with the strength of His weakness brings the Light of hope to the world. It is our choice to welcome Him or not and to accept His invitation to live as children of the same Father.

On the 24th May 2020, Pope Francis proclaimed a Special Laudato Si’ Anniversary Year to invite us to deepen our awareness of the phenomenal environmental crisis in which we are immersed and to react in order to save the planet and humanity. COVID 19 is only an aspect of the broader challenge the world is facing. Our responses to the crises may show different outlooks of our being in the world: an approach that tries to maintain selfish interests, regardless of the needs of others, or a more communal understanding of life that looks at establishing fraternal relationships and mutual concern for one another.

Our common home is crying and her global damage affects the lives of the people in the world, particularly the poor and the most vulnerable. This crisis is calling for a common and urgent response from all. We need to move from a mentality of domination and exploitation of nature and our fellow human beings to another of love, respect, solidarity
and service.

This is why the publication of Fratelli Tutti, the new encyclical of Pope Francis, comes at the right moment. It complements his vision already exposed in the two other main documents of his pontifi- cate, Evangelium Gaudium and Laudato Si’. Fratelli Tutti claims for a communal action to create a better world. It calls for a discerning commitment towards fraternity and social friendship in the world, and the need for dialogue and consensus that puts us all in motion. Fratelli Tutti is a breath of hope in the midst of despair and discouragement. In it, Pope Francis insists on the need for interreligious dialogue.

Inspired by the encounter of St Francis of Assisi with the Sultan of Egypt, Pope Francis met the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Tayyeb last year and together they advocated for reconciliation and fraternity among all believers and people of good will. Our world needs dialogue, consensus, peace, and particularly, a communal commitment to reverse climate change and its consequences. We hope that the new administration in the USA will unite forces together with the rest of the countries of the world for a shared vision towards the common good for humanity.

As the Servite brother, Ermes Ronchi OSM, affirms in his article, Falling in love with reality, in the pages of this magazine, “beauty and good come first, and are deeper than evil”. These are words that give us courage to face any challenge. Together with these words, we Christians also share the conviction that the Love of God has been poured out into our hearts (Rom 5: 5) through the Holy Spirit. We have the power of loving our imperfect beings and a flawed world and to transform them into luminous realities according to our shared dream of hope for humanity. Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year 2021 to all!