Sharing (never mind interpreting) the messages in Fratelli Tutti, is a daunting prospect. Not only is the Encyclical extremely long (287 paragraphs) but it also encompasses a wide range of complex issues and concepts and carries many important messages for Catholic Social Teaching. Caritas Plymouth decided one way to tackle this was to invite a range of people – Priests, Deacons and lay people; men and women, younger and older - to offer a personal perspective on one of the eight chapters, which we shared as video messages on our Facebook page. This blog shares some common themes picked up by our contributors.
At the heart of the encyclical is humanity and the lens through which Pope Francis views the global reality - “the common good” – a consistent theme throughout his pontificate. “When the dignity of the human person is respected, and his or her rights recognized and guaranteed, creativity and interdependence thrive, and the creativity of the human personality is released through actions that further the common good” (no. 22). This is the opposite of societies where a privileged few create systems and structures that serve them, and create a morality that serves their vested interests.
Chapter one, ‘Dark Clouds over a Closed World’ can appear as an exhaustive (and exhausting) list of where humanity has gone wrong. But this litany of disaster is needed to set the context. It highlights how we are all interconnected. The point is not to create despair but to reinforce the message that we face global problems that call for global actions. We are all called to action.
How we act locally impacts on what happens globally. Issues of human dignity are seen as symptoms emerging from a lack of solidarity. Pope Francis uses the parable of the Good Samaritan to make us reflect on how to be a good neighbour - not only in our own communities but also with the poorest of our sisters and brothers. We are far from a globalization of the most basic human rights – the scandal of hunger and thirst in today’s world shames us all. Yet we wall ourselves off and find excuses to move on from the suffering of others and preserve our own peace.
In the current climate of anti-immigration, the encyclical sends a clear message to “welcome, protect, promote and integrate” (no. 129) migrating persons. By looking at humanity through the lens of the common good, our cultural differences can be seen as a gift from God (no. 133). Using language like “minority” is to be avoided. It portrays groups as less important and “its misuse paves the way for hostility and discord” (no. 131). We should do more to explore people’s experience of different cultures to promote the culture of fraternity.
In Fratelli Tutti, issues of human dignity are seen as failures of solidarity (image by Tim Daniels: Pexel)
The encyclical offers a blue-print for the work of Caritas during and post-COVID. Our political and financial systems, the way we spend our own money – this all stops us loving our neighbour and causes us to not love God. The closed world we live in, is one where our individuality is the priority. Seeing and making an open world is to change all this and to ensure decisions are made for the people by the people. The common good is not a utilitarian greatest good for the greatest number but good in itself – that which helps all humanity to live good lives. Human fraternity and care for creation is the sole way to ensure integral human development. We are all invited to be a real neighbour. We need to start our journey in the reality of God’s vision for the world – we must see the World as God does – with our hearts.
We therefore need to judge our lives and work through the lens of love. This doesn’t just mean our personal relationships but also how we act in civic and political life. Love should be at the heart of political life, but all too often is missing. Politics too must make room for a tender love for others – the smallest, the weakest, the poorest. Our political systems should be a gesture of love for the people – caring for the things that belong to all of us. Pope Francis talks about the importance of social love for the creation of a civilization of love to which we are all called. This means we cannot renounce the political dimension of life – all that is human concerns the Church (no. 276). No more sitting on the sidelines on issues that affect the common good and integral human development!
To bring about change “we have to dialogue” (no. 198). Dialogue is not a clash of opposing views, parallel monologues and who has the most ‘followers’. It is about approaching, speaking, and listening to others in order to find common ground. It does not seek shallow consensus which has little regard for the truth and humbly admits that others may have legitimate concerns. We are invited to rediscover the meaning of our humanity in a way that respects all not just some and to resist the dictatorship of the majority. Just because an opinion is popular does not mean it is good. We were purposefully created with a need to cooperate in order to survive. Fraternity, kindness, and trust are the essential bedrock of social action. We are given the example of Christ himself who attracted people through his kindness and asked to reflect whether we cultivate kindness (no. 224) in our own communities to foster a spirit of cooperative dialogue?
Most of all, we are challenged not to be a bystander, but to make plans and bring help where it is needed (which is what Caritas is all about). Subsidiarity means starting local and starting small. Taking local, personal, and concrete steps to relieve the suffering of those around us is the mission of the church – you and I making plans to help the vulnerable in our communities. Nobody will do this for us; it is up to us. If a problem seems too large, then get help and together as communities of love we can heal those who seem beyond our help.
But charitable giving shouldn’t be the only response. The social conditions which cause poverty and injustice must change (even when they suit some of us). ‘It is an act of charity to assist someone suffering but it is also an act of charity… to work to change the social conditions that caused his or her suffering’ (no. 186). Our political and economic decisions are supposed to serve the needs of the people and not the reverse. Our society should be based on service to others, reconciliation and mutual development with the common good at the centre of all activity. We must love everyone unconditionally. But that doesn’t mean not challenging unjust systems; it does not mean impunity for those who have committed injustices – just a rejection of the desire for revenge (no. 241) and a willingness to move forward.
The final chapter reminds us of the importance of religions which ‘contribute significantly to building fraternity and defending justice in society’ (no. 271). We share spiritual and moral values and have so much in common. Religious belief is that each person is created in the image of God and has special importance. Religious formation should strengthen conscience to combat individualism and over-consumption and ensure that we ‘act together for the common good and the promotion of the poor’ (no. 282).
The eight reflections were a great way to explore some of the messages in the encyclical and to reflect on the common themes that the contributors picked out. Despite the dark clouds, all contributors were reflected on the importance of hope and dreams of a better future. “Let us dream, then, 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 his or her beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and sisters all” (no. 8).
To all our contributors, the Encyclical felt very personal to Pope Francis. Most of the references are to his own previous statements and he deliberately models dialogue and fraternity, referencing his inspiration from Martin Luther King, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mahatma Gandhi and quoting at length from his declaration with Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb. We are challenged to follow his example.
Deborah Fisher OBE was appointed Manager of Caritas Plymouth in March 2020. She previously worked in a variety of voluntary sector roles, following a 20-year career in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.