The Pope of the poor defended the belief in a dialogue in which the similarities of the points of view were sincerely sought and the differences, sincerely neglected.
The owner of a contagious smile and a wonderful gift of communication, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio won the hearts of millions of people all over the world from the moment he won for the first time at the Vatican window, when he greeted the crowd gathered in the square with his friendly “Buonasera”!
But beyond sympathy, taking on the name of St. Francis of Assisi, the first Latin American pope in history defined himself and his pontificate as Franciscan: simple, humble and compassionate. At the beginning of his pontificate, the Pope showed the world the true face of Christianity.
In one of his first interviews, that granted to a journalist aboard the plane he traveled, he answered the question about how he judged homosexuality with the sentence: “Who am I to judge?”
The love of the Pope for Jesus Christ has been revealed in every word of his encyclicals (pastoral letters), published throughout his short pontificate of only 12 years. Encyclics develop the theme of the world’s need to return to faith, be careful with the planet Earth and the people who can suffer because of climate change, usually the weakest, poorest and most prohibited.
Pope Francis eloquently preached the need to develop more and more friendship and confraternity, that is, the urgent need to see the other always as a brother.
The following are the encyclicals of Pope Francis: Lumen Fidei (“About Faith”, published in 2013), Laudato if (“Lode Sejas”, on The Care of the Ordinary address, published in 2015), All brothers (“All Brothers”, on fraternity and social friendship, published in 2020), Dilexit (“He loved us”, exhortation to develop devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, published in 2024).
Among these, two were considered “social encyclicals”: Laudato yes AND All brothers. These letters have been written in response to the realities of changes in today’s world. Laudato yesIn particular, he faces the environmental crisis. The encyclical criticizes consumerism and warns of the need for a global unit to limit the heating of the soil and contain environmental degradation.
The last of the encyclics, the DilexitIt was published last October. In it, the Pope deepens on the divine and human love of Jesus. Contrary to what the overvvalutes of the world of today – the reason – the pontiff asks us to recover what is the most important and necessary – the heart – which is what really defines us. Ours is a world of inequalities. Every day we are becoming more aware of them and the injustices that cause.
The differences, whether they are language, breed or religion, are manipulated to increase hatred of distrust and even mutual. Pope Francis has always affected the fact that everything that separates us will be overcome and that we can always see in the other brother.
From today, without the Pope, the world becomes a little more threatened, more frightened. The poor have lost their last protector, the leaders and priests of all religions have lost the greatest supporter of ecumenism, the approach of all religions and the belief in a dialogue in which the similarities of the points of view have been sincerely sought and the differences have been sincerely neglected.
Pope Francis was an enthusiastic defender of human rights. With his wide smile as a simple and humble man, he touched the hearts of thousands of people all over the world, Catholic and non -Catholic. We will miss you.
Anna Maria Moog Rodrigues does not consult, works, has actions or receives funding from any company or organization that can benefit from the publication of this article and has not revealed any relevant link beyond its academic position.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
