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Wednesday's vibrant catechesis on the drama of the migrants made a lot of noise. But the touching appeal to take on the suffering of so many people was unfortunately counterbalanced by a series of ‘excommunications’ and political judgments based on ideological visions and deficient information.
It is impossible not to be struck by the unscheduled catechesis delivered by Pope Francis at last Wednesday's audience in Saint Peter’s Square. ‘Sea and desert was the title of the Vatican communication and obviously the theme was migrants, their sufferings, their aspirations, their broken lives: “And when I say ”sea’, in the context of migrations,’ said Pope Francis, ’I also mean ocean, lake, river, all the insidious bodies of water that so many brothers and sisters all over the world are forced to cross to reach their destination. And ‘desert’ is not only that of sand and dunes, or rocks, but they are also all those inaccessible and dangerous territories, such as forests, jungles, steppes where migrants walk alone, left to their own devices'.
It is a speech that will probably turn out to be one of the most important of his pontificate, the synthesis of his arguments around his main theme. One grasps the sincere participation in the drama that involves at least 400 million people around the world; a profound and heartfelt appeal to our humanity too often engaged in ideological judgments that mask a real indifference to the pain of others. But the comments in the major newspapers with which this speech was received show how ideological even those who fill their mouths with welcome are, concerned to read the Pope's speech simply as an attack on Italy’s Meloni government as well as on those European leaders attempting to resolve a politically charged issue by restricting numbers.
Returning to the pope's speech, it is certainly important that the personal stories of suffering, violence and death evoked pierce the armour of ready answers on this world emergency. Yet there are aspects in this discourse, the conclusions the pope draws, that are out of tune and reduce everything to a political and moralistic horizon that cannot be shared in the slightest.
Continued below.
newdailycompass.com
It is impossible not to be struck by the unscheduled catechesis delivered by Pope Francis at last Wednesday's audience in Saint Peter’s Square. ‘Sea and desert was the title of the Vatican communication and obviously the theme was migrants, their sufferings, their aspirations, their broken lives: “And when I say ”sea’, in the context of migrations,’ said Pope Francis, ’I also mean ocean, lake, river, all the insidious bodies of water that so many brothers and sisters all over the world are forced to cross to reach their destination. And ‘desert’ is not only that of sand and dunes, or rocks, but they are also all those inaccessible and dangerous territories, such as forests, jungles, steppes where migrants walk alone, left to their own devices'.
It is a speech that will probably turn out to be one of the most important of his pontificate, the synthesis of his arguments around his main theme. One grasps the sincere participation in the drama that involves at least 400 million people around the world; a profound and heartfelt appeal to our humanity too often engaged in ideological judgments that mask a real indifference to the pain of others. But the comments in the major newspapers with which this speech was received show how ideological even those who fill their mouths with welcome are, concerned to read the Pope's speech simply as an attack on Italy’s Meloni government as well as on those European leaders attempting to resolve a politically charged issue by restricting numbers.
Returning to the pope's speech, it is certainly important that the personal stories of suffering, violence and death evoked pierce the armour of ready answers on this world emergency. Yet there are aspects in this discourse, the conclusions the pope draws, that are out of tune and reduce everything to a political and moralistic horizon that cannot be shared in the slightest.
Continued below.
Pope and migrants, best intentions but incorrect judgements
Wednesday's vibrant catechesis on the drama of the migrants made a lot of noise. But the touching appeal to take on the suffering of so many people was unfortunately counterbalanced by a series of ‘excommunications’ and political judgments based on ideological visions and deficient information.
