Living with Strength and Kindliness
The Pope’s new Encyclical Fratelli Tutti has been described as a powerful and relevant encyclical for our times.
A literal understanding of the title’s translation is ‘Brothers everywhere" or "Brothers in everything"– which, regardless of the specific translation, encourages a very open-armed approach to one another. The title actually translates as ‘Brothers and Sisters All’ reaffirming that the context of the word fraternity in contemporary times is ‘peoplehood’, including everyone.
The first words of the Encyclical are part of a quotation from St. Francis of Assisi, in which he commends a fraternity that crosses all boundaries of distance and culture. So it is easy to work out that Fratelli Tutti is a reinforcement of the need to work toward the common good and to build up social cohesion. As Pope Francis has stated in most of his recent writings, it is through our relationships with others that we truly flourish.
Pope Francis says:
"A person is a person through other persons" or "I am, because we are."
"If only we might rediscover once for all that we need one another," he continues. "God willing, after all this, we will think no longer in terms of 'them' and 'those,' but only 'us.' "
In his Encyclical Pope Francis speaks of the need for equality and justice for all, cooperation, caring for the most vulnerable, doing the hard work of learning to listen to and accompany others, and caring for the earth that nurtures and sustains us all.
In the letter he refers often to the term Social Friendship. To Pope Francis, Social Friendship refers to a respect for persons and so for the common good over individual interests in social, economic and institutional relationships.
In the 86-page document, Pope Francis diagnoses a number of social ills, including what he’s called the “throwaway culture” that treats the environment, resources, and even people as disposable. He describes unjust economic systems that exploit workers in order to enrich a few wealthy people. He also speaks very strongly about the negative effects of both populism and globalisation. The Encyclical strongly endorses the human rights of people made vulnerable by society — of women and children, of racial minorities, of refugees, of the aged and others (particularly in times like we are suffering now as a result of the COVID-19 global crisis).
Pope Francis, as is his way ,also offers us a way forward and offers us hope.
This prayer captures his sentiment.
An Ecumenical Christian Prayer
O God, Trinity of love,
from the profound communion of your divine life,
pour out upon us a torrent of fraternal love.
Grant us the love reflected in the actions of Jesus,
in his family of Nazareth,
and in the early Christian community.
Grant that we Christians may live the Gospel,
discovering Christ in each human being,
recognizing him crucified
in the sufferings of the abandoned
and forgotten of our world,
and risen in each brother or sister
who makes a new start.
Come, Holy Spirit, show us your beauty,
reflected in all the peoples of the earth,
so that we may discover anew
that all are important and all are necessary,
different faces of the one humanity
that God so loves. Amen.
If you would like to know more visit:
https://www.catholic.org.au/fratellitutti
https://www.catholicoutlook.org/fratelli-tutti-in-5-minutes/
Tutti Fratelli is a term used by St. Francis of Assisi in his writings titled ‘Admonitions’. The Pope uses the expression to state how he would like the people of the world to be for one another.
Pope Francis’ Tutti Fratelli is a “cry from the heart” to all people of the earth to see beyond their differences—indeed to work with their differences—and begin to grow together to build a new and peaceful world.
Kirrilee Westblade
Catholic Identity Leader
The Catholic Education Commission of Victoria has released its 2021 Parent Handbook for Catholic Secondary Schools.
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