Fratelli Tutti

Thursday, November 26th, 2020

Pope Francis issued his latest encyclical “Fratelli Tutti” on 10/3/2020, with the theme of fraternity and social friendship. There are eight chapters in this encyclical. Fr. Anthony summarizes below the fifth chapter entitled “A Better Kind of Politics.”

We need a new type of politics, one open to the common good (§154). Neither populism nor liberalism are the answer (§155) as populism has become a source of polarization in society (§156). Popular leaders CAN unite a people, which is good, but can also be a source of polarization (§159). The trouble is that popular leaders tend to focus on short-term rather than long-term goals as they want to be re-elected (§161). The best way to help people is through adequately paid jobs, which provide the dignity of human labor (§162). Private life cannot exist unless it is protected by public order (§164).

We need to work with others to help the needy. Even the Good Samaritan needed to have a nearby inn that could provide the help that he was personally unable to offer (§165). True change only happens when ALL are included in the process (§169). We need more effective global groups focused on the common good of all (§172). Subsidiarity shows local groups doing work the state cannot (§175). Politicians need to have both a long-term and a short-term outlook (§178).

They can do much more good at a broader level than the local level (§180). When the good of others is at stake, good intentions are not enough. Concrete efforts are needed (§185). It is good to help someone in their suffering but it is better to change the conditions that caused that suffering in the first place (§186). Politics needs to make the elimination of hunger one of its foremost and imperative goals (§189). World leaders need to spread the culture of tolerance and of living together in peace (§192). As human beings politicians need to treat all people as individuals, not as problems to be solved (§193). In political activity, if I can help at least one person to have a better life, that already justifies the offering of my life (§195).

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