Pope Francis' encyclical Fratelli Tutti promotes universal fraternity and social friendship. It addresses counterforces like aggression, individualism, and a "throwaway culture" that undermine solidarity. However, the COVID-19 pandemic showed our interdependence. The pope calls us to embrace all people as neighbors through compassion like the Good Samaritan. He advocates for dialogue over conflict and sees roles for politics and religion in building a more just, inclusive and peaceful world.
1. FRATELLI TUTI
BROTHERS AND SISTERS ALL
POPE FRANCIS: ENCYCLICAL LETTER ON
FRATERNITY AND SCOIAL FRIENDSHIP (2020)
REV.FR.WILSON, ST.PAUL’S SEMINARY, TRICHY, TAMILNADU
5. 2) Pope Francis’ Encyclicals
i) Lumen Fidei (29, June 2013): On the Light of Faith.
Apostolic Exhortation (2013): Evangelii Gaudium (On
the Joy of the Gospel)
ii) Laudato Si (24, May 2015): On care for our
Common Home (Earth)
Apostolic Exhortation (2016): Amoris Laetitia (Call to
Holiness in the World)
Apostolic Exhortation (2018): Gaudete Et Exsultate:
Call to Holiness.
iii) Fratelli Tutti (3, October 2020): On Fraternity and
Social Friendship.
6. 3) Social Encyclical
i) Pope describes this encyclical as
a “Social Encyclical”.
ii) The 287-paragraph document is
of Pope Francis’s social teaching.
iii) Eight chapters are
documented.
8. Francis of Assisi
4) Release:
i) On the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, 3rd October, at
the tomb of St. Francis.
ii) The Holy Father, released his third encyclical letter
of his papacy,
iii) Entitled in Italian language, Fratelli Tutti.
5) Term of St. Francis of Assisi:
It borrows the title of the “Admonitions” of Saint
Francis of Assisi, who used these words to “address
his brothers and sisters and proposed to them a way
of life marked by the Gospel”.
9. 6) The Aim of the Encyclical
It is to promote a
universal aspiration
towards “Fraternity
and Social
friendship”.
10. 7) Background of Covid-19 Pandemic
i) Global Pandemic: “Unexpectedly erupted
pandemic” and the ‘global health emergency’
have helped demonstrate that “no one can
face life in isolation” and that the time has
truly come to “dream, then, as a single human
family” in which we are “brothers and sisters
all”.
ii) Social Distancing: In this time of social
distancing, the Holy Father reminds us that we
ought to love our brothers and sisters as much
when they are far away as we are with them.
11. 8) Summary
i) Counter Forces: It starts with what
is holding humanity back from the
development of universal fraternity.
ii) Forces of Hope: It moves to an
expression of hope that peace and
unity will be achieved through
dialogue among peoples of faith.
15. 1) Shattered Dreams:
i) Regression: Learning from World Wars and great
disasters, People tried for ‘Integrated European
Union’ and ‘Integrated Latin America’, but in long
run, there is a setback now.
ii) Aggression: Aggressive nationalism is on the rise
with ideologies of selfishness and loss of social sense,
under pretext of saving national interests.
E.g., Israel, Taliban in Afghanistan.
iii) Need for Integration: We cannot take advantage
of the past glory but there is a need for an ongoing
commitment for peace and solidarity.
16. 2) The Loss of a Historical Consciousness:
i) Danger of Deconstructionism: We lost the
sense of history and claim to create everything
from ‘Zero’. E.g., Post-modernism: Everything
is subjective not objective knowledge.
ii) Empty Individualism: Young people may
lose their way of purpose if they lose sight of
their rich history and experiences of the past.
iii) Cultural Colonisation: People who
abandon their tradition lose their identity.
17. 3) Lacking a Plan for Everyone:
i) Failure of Political life: No healthy
long-term plans to improve people’s
lives.
ii) Conflicting Interests: People try to
eliminate the oppositions and distant
from one another.
iii) Silencing: The economic powers
silence the voices of
environmentalists.
18. 4) A Throwaway World:
i) Utility:
People are valued from the aspect
of their utility alone.
ii) Throwaway:
As we throw the waste food, we
throw away people, the old,
unborn.
19. 5) Conflict and Fear:
i) Third World War:
Racial and religious persecutions,
terrorism led to mistrust and fear.
ii) Self-preservation:
Many Walls are built around an
individual. E.g., cultural walls, walls
in heart, walls on land, finally ending
up with walls for themselves.
20. 6) Illusion of Communication:
i) Threat to Privacy: Everyone’s life is under the
danger of constant surveillance.
ii) Media Addiction: It leads to gradual loss of
contact, isolation and addiction.
iii) Virtual Relationships: People tend to develop
virtual relationships than real.
iv) Shameless Aggression: Media loaded with
religious fanaticism and slander.
v) Information without Wisdom: True wisdom
demands encounter with reality.
21. 7) Ray of Hope:
i) The Pandemic:
It has enabled us to recognise and
appreciate all around us.
ii) Inter-dependence:
We need doctors, nurses and people of
good hearts.
24. Who is my Neighbour?
1) Genesis 4:9
God to Cain: Where is your brother?
Cain: Am I brother’s keeper?
2) Deutronomy 24:21
Welcome a stranger for you were also once a strangers in Egypt.
3) Book of Job 31:15
Is it not the same God who made me and him from womb?
4) Leviticus 19:18
Love your Neighbour as you love yourself.
5) Mt7:12
“In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for
this is the law and the prophets”.
25. Good Samaritan
Three Characters:
1) Those who pass by:
Priest and Levite.
2) Those who care:
Good Samaritan
3) Those who are injured:
We also feel sometimes as wounded and in need of help
4) Injury:
Neglected by our own institutions
Political and Ideological negligence
Media talk and no real talk
26. 1) Example of Good Samaritan:
In the midst of many shadows, a herald of hope:
the Good Samaritan.
2) Road of Suffering:
In an unhealthy society, it turns its back on
suffering and that is “illiterate” in caring for the
weak and vulnerable.
3) Becoming Neighbours:
It is to become neighbours to others, overcoming
prejudices, personal interests, historic and
cultural barriers.
27. 4) Co-Responsibility:
We all are co-responsible in creating a society
that is able to include, integrate and lift up those
who have fallen or are suffering.
5) Bridge of Love:
Love builds bridges and “we were made for love”,
the Pope exhorts Christians to recognize Christ in
the face of every excluded person.
6) Neighbours without Borders:
The parable a reminder that the natural love we
experience for family members should be
consciously extended to those who are strangers
to us.
30. 1) Existence in the Other:
Pope exhorts us to go “‘outside’ the self” in
order to find “a fuller existence in another”,
opening ourselves up to the dynamism of
charity which brings toward “universal
fulfilment”.
2) Call for Spiritual Maturity in Love:
The spiritual stature of a person’s life is
measured by love. Love draws us out of
ourselves and draws the ones we love, into
ourselves. True love “impels us towards
universal communion.
31. 3) Beauty in Diversity:
The sense of solidarity and of fraternity begin
within the family. This movement toward
solidarity does not eliminate differences, but
celebrates the beauty of diversity.
4) Refugees:
Ethics of international relations: Every country
also belongs to foreigners and the goods of the
territory cannot be denied to those who are in
need and come from another place.
Mt 25:35: I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
34. 1) Theme of Migration:
Holy Father points to the plight of immigrants in
today’s world as an opportunity to better care for
our brothers and sisters. The topic of borders and
their limitations is the theme in this chapter.
Migration is an international concern and an
international response is needed.
2) Unnecessary Migration:
It needs to be avoided, the Pontiff affirms, by
creating concrete opportunities to live with
dignity in the countries of origin.
35. 3) Right Balance:
We need to respect the right to seek a better life elsewhere. In
receiving countries, the right balance will be between the
protection of citizens and the guarantee of welcome for
migrants.
4) Christian Charity:
It is to simplify the ‘visas’; assure lodging and security; offer
opportunities for employment and training; favour family
reunification; protect minors; to guarantee religious freedom.
5) Global Governance:
What is needed, is global governance, an international
collaboration for migration which implements long-term
planning, going beyond single emergencies, on behalf of all
peoples.
38. 1) Danger of Populism
Populism ignores the legitimacy of the notion
of “people”, by attracting consensus in order
to exploit them for its own service and
selfishness in order to increase its own
popularity.
2) Danger of Liberalism:
Neoliberalism exalts the marketplace as the
solution to all problems, but it renders benefit
to those only in power.
39. 3) Better Politics:
Noble politics puts social love at the forefront rather than
economics. Better politics is the need for strategy against
poverty and to promote in the perspective of solidarity
and subsidiarity.
4) The Task of Politics:
The task is to find a solution to all that attacks on
fundamental human rights, such as social exclusion; the
marketing of organs, weapons and drugs; sexual
exploitation; and terrorism.
5) Fight against Poverty:
Noble politics should focus on the long-term common
good. Concretely, the pope also calls for reform of the
U.N. and an end to human trafficking.
42. 1) Need for Dialogue:
Pope Francis turns to dialogue and its essential role in creating a
new culture of fraternity. Dialogue is a middle path between
“selfish indifference” and “violent protest”.
2) Purpose of Dialogue:
Society is built on authentic dialogue, which involves respecting
the other’s viewpoint, but not in a relativistic fashion. It must
respect the truth of our human dignity and submit to that truth.
3) Act of Kindness:
No one is useless in God’s creation. Act of kindness is lived out in
the hard, but joyful, work of encountering those who are different
than ourselves. For this we can call on the Holy Spirit for the gift
of kindness. Kindness frees us from the cruelty and anxiety.
45. 1) True Peace:
In many circumstances, peace and fraternity require healing
between groups who have experienced conflict. True peace must
be based on truth, along with justice and mercy.
2) Unity:
Unity is often best achieved when people work together to
address the problems they share. The process of peace-making is
on-going and requires work, especially a care for the most
vulnerable in society. Conflicts will arise but can be resolved
through dialogue and honest negotiation.
3) Forgiveness:
Forgiveness is linked to peace. We must love everyone without
exception but loving an oppressor means helping him to change
and not allowing him to continue oppressing. Forgiveness helps
us to renounce the destructive power of evil and the desire for
revenge.
46. 4) End to Just War
Due to nuclear chemical and biological weapons, today we
can no longer think the possibility of a “just war”, and we
must vehemently reaffirm: “Never again war!” The total
elimination of nuclear arms is “a moral and humanitarian
imperative”. With the money invested in weapons, the
Pope suggests instead the establishment of a global fund
for the elimination of hunger.
5) End to Death Penalty
Death penalty is inadmissible and must be abolished
worldwide. Not even a murderer loses his personal dignity
and God himself pledges to guarantee this. There is
emphasis on the necessity to respect “the sacredness of
life”.
49. 1) Role of Religions:
1) The essential role that the different religions of
the world should play in fostering universal
fraternity. Religions remind humanity of the
existence of transcendent truth which is the
source of human dignity.
2) Conscience Formation:
Religious formation fortifies human consciences
against the individualism and materialism that
underlie the divisions and polarizations in our
world.
50. 3) Collaboration among Religions:
The Roman Pontiff calls for greater collaboration among
religions “for the common good and the promotion of the
poor”. Terrorism is not due to religion but to erroneous
interpretations of religious texts. A journey of peace among
religions is possible and that it is therefore necessary to
guarantee religious freedom, a fundamental human right for all
believers.
4) The Role of the Church:
The Church does not “restrict her mission to the private
sphere”, while not engaging in politics she does not, however,
renounce the political dimension of life itself, but pays
attention to the common good and concern for integral human
development, according to evangelical principals.