tvc.dsj.org | January 22, 2019
21
COMMENTARY
Refl ections on Pope Francis’ 2019 World Day of Peace Message
By Tony Magliano
Internationally syndicated social jus-
tice and peace columnist
[email protected]
As the saying goes, “Politics and religion don’t
mix.” Although this cliché is espoused by many,
you will not hear it from Pope Francis.
On the contrary, the leader of the Catholic
hurch fi rmly teaches that our os el- ased faith
has a wealth of wisdom to off er the often corru t
world of politics. And that it is our duty to strive to
infuse that wisdom into the body politic.
As exhibit “A,” consider the Holy Father’s Janu-
ary 1 World Day of Peace message – appropriately
titled “Good politics is at the service of peace.”
eace is li e a delicate ower struggling to
blossom on the stony ground of violence,” the pope
writes. “Politics is an essential means of building
human community and institutions, but when po-
litical life is not seen as a form of service to society
as a whole, it can become a means of oppression,
marginalization and even destruction.”
This is so true. As one of many sad examples,
con sider how of ten pol it ica l off ic ia ls a l low
and even authorize the oppression of minority
groups like the Rohingya in Myanmar, and now
in Bangladesh (see: https://bbc.in/2KPgZ7Q,
https://bit.ly/2RPcE4a).
And consider that many political leaders in gov-
ernments throughout the world, including democ-
racies, largely ignore the marginalized poor – in
effect exiling them to the fringes of society, and
even leaving millions of them to die every year (see:
https://borgenproject.org/15-world-hunger-statistics).
Among the “political vices” the pope cites are
“Today more than ever, our
societies need ‘artisans of peace’
who can be messengers and
authentic witnesses of God the
Father, who wills the good and
happiness of the human family.”
“xenophobia, racism, lack of concern for the natural
environment, the plundering of natural resources
for the sa e of uic rofi t and contem t for those
forced into exile.” All of which bring to mind recent
dire environmental warnings from the United Na-
tions Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(see: https://on.natgeo.com/2C4uv2j), the National
Climate Assessment (see: https://bit.ly/2DFvfvO),
and the often cold-hearted political response to
suff ering migrants see https://bbc.in/2yZnCMD).
Here the pontiff’s words are equally strong,
“Political addresses that tend to blame every evil
on migrants and to deprive the poor of hope are
unacce ta le. ather, there is a need to reaffi rm that
peace is based on respect for each person, whatever
his or her background.”
Pope Francis then challenges the immoral trag-
edy of war and fear. He says, “Peace can never be re-
duced solely to a balance between power and fear.”
And adds that the proliferation of arms is “contrary
to morality and the search for true peace” (see:
https://bit.ly/2BqRelc).
And he condemns “forms of nationalism that call
into question the fraternity of which our globalized
world has such great need.”
In the world – political and otherwise – where
self-centered egos often dominate, Pope Francis
calls our attention to the humble corrective teach-
ing of esus f anyone would e fi rst, he must e
last of all and servant of all.”
Francis then challengingly calls us to be creative
peacemakers: “Today more than ever, our societies
need ‘artisans of peace’ who can be messengers and
authentic witnesses of God the Father, who wills the
good and happiness of the human family.”
And to that Pope Francis encouragingly adds,
“Everyone can contribute his or her stone to help
build the common home.” With open hearts and
minds to God, let each of us ask ourself: What is
my stone? And how can I best use it to build our
common home?
And then consider a New Year’s resolution worth
keeping: Read “Good politics is at the service of
peace” and prayerfully strive to put it into practice
(see: https://bit.ly/2CmIobS).
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Thomas so shocked his noble Italian family when he entered the
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