Category: Editorial

A mentality of fear, of “us against them,” can only lead to fundamentalism, intolerance and violence. On the other hand, true dialogue opens doors, creates bridges and promotes communion.

Urban poverty is massive in many of our metropolis. Nearly one–half of African and Asian populations are becoming urbanites, and more than three–fourths already of Latin America is. The massive exodus from the rural areas to the cities, motivated by poverty, war, tribal conflicts or simply by the dream of a better future for individuals and families, is a reality. This massive influx into the cities has not translated into a homogeneous society but rather created not only homelessness, but massive slum areas around the cities.  Opulence and fine living stand side–by–side with masses of people fighting for survival and living in degrading conditions. Inadequate housing, along with limited access to water, sanitation, and other city services, like garbage collection, are only part of the daily struggle of many. The greatest stigma they suffer is very often the neglect, indifference and apathy of many who simply prefer to ignore their needs. No wonder the world was fascinated by the picture of a homeless man, Hillman, who was photographed being given a pair of boots (worth $100) by a New York City police officer in Times Square on a bitterly cold day. Within a day or two, the photo was viewed by millions. It was a sporadic act of kindness, lauded by many. In the coldness of a metropolis, such as N.Y. City, with individualism, anonymity and indifference on the rise, where the homeless are so easily objectified, people can still be moved by the simple act of clothing another human being. Indeed, the human heart is still warmed by mercy, compassion and generosity. This simple act of compassion becomes a sacramental encounter between two worlds so close yet so far apart – the rich and the poor; the affluent and the destitute; the insider and the outsider; the one who can help and the one who is in need of help. To bridge the gap, to foster these sacramental encounters, to break away with indifference fostering compassion, care, inclusion and nurturing respect for all human beings… Aren’t these the mission of the Church? Good is God! Goodness will always, and in every circumstance, portray a vivid and credible image of a God who continues to break barriers of discrimination, isolation and indifference. Urban mission challenges the Church to warm the hearts of believers and non–believers as well, with genuine compassion, love and service, kneeling down before the poverty of millions neglected in our streets or in marginalized communities in slums, clothing them with dignity and respect, bridging the gap created by our “blindness” and indifference. “The Blind Side” movie, which depicts the remarkable true story of American football star, Michael Oher, lays it out clearly: two worlds gaped by indifference but bridged by goodness. Taken by a well–to–do family and offered a second chance in life, a homeless teen grows to become a star athlete. The “blind side” of indifference is given light by the glow of goodness.  Often, during His ministry, Jesus spoke of having hearts that could discern

Francis, a man who visited slums, cooked his own meals, rode public transportation, mingled with the simple sojourners on the roads of life, this lover of simplicity, has just been ranked by Forbes as the 4th most powerful person in the world. He falls just behind President Putin of Russia (in first place), President Obama (in second) and Xi Jinping of China (in third) – What an irony, don’t you think so? Pope Francis rules over the world’s smallest country, at just 109 acres, with a population of roughly one thousand, but his influence goes well beyond those tiny borders. From the moment of his first appearance as pope, Francis assumed an attitude of simplicity, true humility and service, using his power to serve the poor. This new attitude has sparkled a renewed interest within Church circles and renewed faith and hope among the people – a breath of fresh air to men and women of other religious affiliations or with non-affiliation at all.  With his new approach, Francis has breathed a new energy into the Church and has shown us the face of true power – the power of compassion, perhaps the most important mission tasked to the Church. Over and over, Francis has reached out, in presence, word, gestures, phone calls – and through twitter – to over 3 million followers. His effort is to build bridges, overcoming the isolation and the temptation to exclude, by accepting the vulnerability of being nearer, more exposed, more dialogical with peoples of all ages, building empathy and compassion. He has revealed himself as a great communicator of the Gospel in images and experiences and someone accessible to ordinary people.  Forbes based its choice on four factors: the number of people a person influences, the financial resources he or she controls, the influence of the candidate across the world, and whether the person actively uses his or her power to change the world. No doubt, Francis occupies a position of power that makes billions stop and listen. He has influenced over 1 in 7 human beings on earth. However, it is his new style, attitude, and his compassionate heart that have won over millions. Even his critical approach to those who share power in the Church is far from being empty and reduced to mere harsh criticism. He wants that all of us may rediscover the power of humble but joyful service. Isn’t this what the Christmas message is all about? God humbles Himself to pitch His tent among us, conquering our hearts with the power of His compassionate love? Yes, it is in the simplicity of that manger that the saving power of God draws near to us and is revealed to the nations. It stirred controversy among the leading Jews, even caused persecution and rejection, but it also inflamed the hearts of some men and women with the fire of God’s love which brought them to give witness to their joy before all. Thus, the Church was born, founded on

In an era of mass and instant communications, borders are crossed by a simple touch on a mobile phone; distances are conquered by video conferences, the unknown is now accessible at a click of the computer mouse. While these new avenues of communication carry great dangers – addiction to technology, exploitation of people, manipulation for the sake of profit, and abuse of means to achieve dishonest ends – they have become channels for transparency, encounter, and dialogue – overcoming isolation and exposing us to different ways of thinking, judging and acting. They allow people to join forces in denouncing evil, opening new paths for hope, peace and justice. And, most of all, they create a sense of interconnectedness of our human existence, particularly on issues concerning ecology, social justice, religious dialogue and defense of human rights. In this global society, so diverse and distant yet with a common journey interwoven with privileges and responsibilities, individuals and institutions are called to know their milieu and to dialogue in a spirit of openness and true collaboration. Individuals and institutions can no longer function alienated from the common journey we make as a global society. Moreover, the Church, whose mission is to be ‘salt’ and ‘leaven’ in the midst of humanity, has to heed ever anew the call for openness and dialogue. Pope Francis has, recently, reminded us: “When the Church becomes closed, it becomes sick, sick.” (www.catholicsun.org)  Closing the doors to dialogue is  building walls, creating isolation and choosing a fruitless existence. A mentality of fear, of “us against them,” can only lead to fundamentalism and intolerance. On the other hand, true dialogue opens doors, creates bridges and promotes communion. Addressing the personnel of the Jesuit journal La Civilta Catolica, Pope Francis stated: “Your main task isn’t to build walls but bridges. It is to establish a dialogue with all persons, even those who don’t share the Christian faith…Through dialogue, it is always possible to get closer to the truth, which is a gift of God, and to enrich one another.” (www.news.va) Such is the common mission of the Church – to build bridges! To avoid relativism – the temptation to see equal merits in all religions – and syncretism – the idea that all religions or sincere beliefs are really saying the same things that could be mixed like a salad – dialogue should be procured with an updated knowledge of one’s own faith. To know and understand one’s own faith paves the way to live it and to share it since a convinced and mature faith is capable not only of giving meaning to one’s life, but also of providing answers to those who search for God. With such knowledge, it is possible to understand and appreciate the differences, leaving room for an open and enriching dialogue with respect and honesty –  the dialogue of life.  The much-needed spirit of collaboration among the different religious groups, to provide credible answers to the so many maladies of our global society, is

Jesus was asleep as the winds tossed the bark and the waves put it in danger of sinking. The disciples were terrified and they called to the Lord (Mark 4:35–41). The wind obeyed His voice, fear vanished and calmness was restored. This image has been with me since the election of Pope Francis. Yes, it came at a very troubled moment for the ‘bark of Peter.’ Tremendous ‘waves’ of sex abuse, rumors of corruption, careerism and inefficiency, of faithful abandoning the Church, of discredit and unbelief…threatened to destroy the credibility and the efficacy of the Church in today’s society. But, at the right time, He is there, restoring calmness. I have no doubt that the election of Cardinal Bergoglio to the papacy was God’s work, and I think that’s why, almost at once, it was perceived by many as the so–much–needed ‘fresh breath of life’ into a seemingly tired Church.  Pope Francis has been bold, not only in his spirit filled words, but in his remarkable deeds. His call for a Church that is “poor and for the poor” was made visible – he refused to move into the Papal Palace, kept his black shoes, forego the red cape popes usually wear, kept the iron–plated pectoral cross he used as archbishop, and his papal fisherman’s ring isn’t gold but gold–plated silver, made from a mold created for Pope Paul VI. Moreover, Francis has bridged the gap – he ditched the bulletproof–glass–enclosed Popemobile and he rides around in an open–air white Mercedes jeep, never afraid of breaking protocol and frequently getting out greeting the crowds. Aren’t all these in sharp contrast with his titles? “His full title is ‘Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of Vatican City.’” That’s a mouthful when “you are busy telling people you are at their service.” says Peter Stanford in Britain’s The Guardian. As the enthusiasm of the crowds at St. Peter Square shows no sign of dying down, I am delighted to see that Pope Francis has continually reached out, particularly, to youth, calling them to carry on the faith. In his usual audience, last April 24, he reached out to them: “Are there many young people? Where are they?” – the applause and cheers were thunderous from the youth present at the square. He continued – “Your lives are only just beginning and so I ask you this: Have you thought about the talents God has given you? … how to use them to serve others? … Life was not given to us for us to guard it zealously and keep it to ourselves, but to give it to others… don’t be afraid to dream of great things!” His first trip as pope, not coincidentally, is for the World Youth Day in Brazil. Pope Francis has found his way to lead

Lack of practice makes the job harder. The less one is committed to practicing, the harder the job will be. The runner who does not practice will, soon, run short of breath and quit the race. Jesus knew that, without His breath – the Holy Spirit – the disciples would not be able to carry on the mission entrusted to them. “Jesus said: ‘Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.’ Then He breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” (Jn. 20:21–22). In these words, Jesus makes clear that the protagonist of mission is, indeed, the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, the Apostles break the chains of fear and despair and let themselves be led by that ‘fire’ of love and passion for the mission. The “Breath of Life” empowered the Apostles and made their mission life–giving, crossing borders of race, culture etnicity and spreading the fire of God’s love to all. Much has been said and written about the historic decision of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. And, during these days of Sede Vacante, speculation continues about the future of the Catholic Church. Profiles of the indispensible qualities of the Holy Father are listed – open–minded, wih great leadership skills, who likes to listen, a true servant of servants… Many prophets of doom point to this resignation as a clear sign of the collapse of the Catholic Church, while others see in it a tremendous gesture of humility of a man who, fully aware of his limits, trusted the work of the Spirit. In his farewell address to the College of Cardinals, Pope Benedict quoted one of his favorite theologians, Romano Guardini: “The Church is not an institution devised and built at table, but a living reality. She lives along the course of time by transforming herself, like any living being, yet her nature remains the same. At her heart is Christ.” At present, the instability and degradation of human life caused by the mounting obsession of a few for worldly power cannot be denied. In Syria the bloodshed continues; in Kenya, fear of great violence surrounds the period of elections; in the Philippines, as local elections approach, the almost daily killings no longer make it to the headlines…In such context, I believe, this eloquent decision of Pope Benedict XVI speaks of an assurance of faith that the Church does not depend on human power but, as a living being, it is nourished by the God’s living presence. In his final general audience, Pope Benedict stated: “I always knew that the Lord is in the barque, that the barque of the Church is not mine, not ours, but His – and He shall not let her sink. It is He, who steers her: to be sure, He does so also through men of His choosing, for He desired that it be so. This was and is a certainty that nothing can tarnish.” The ocean is vast, the sea may be rough at

“Our purpose is to bring the life of God to a world often submerged in death. With the guidance of the newly–elected pope, empowered by the Life–Giving Breath of God, let us sail!”