To eradicate the culture of indifference, discarding and confrontation, and thus build a society based on fraternal relationships, giving priority to the care of others and of creation, through a generalized protagonism of women. It is with this desire-certainly not a new one-that Pope Francis' reflection at the beginning of the year 2021 to heads of state, heads of international organizations, spiritual leaders and the faithful of the various religions and to all people of good will is born.
The occasion is offered by the Message for the celebration of the World Day of Peace, which for 54 years has been celebrated on January 1 by intuition of the Holy Predecessor, Pope Paul VI, having as its theme "....The culture of care as a path to peace".
The culture of care
The Pontiff develops this culture in seven points, beginning with the model of ".Creator God"recalling how in many religious traditions there are narratives in which it is evident that the human creature is entrusted with a special vocation".in the care of". With a series of historical references, the first quintessential example of this "God's project for humanity"The Pope's commentary is set out in the Book of Genesis, which recounts Adam's commission to cultivate and guard the Garden of Eden, both to make the earth productive and to protect it by preserving its capacity to sustain life.
Likewise, Scripture presents God as "....model of care"The Prophets also emphasize the importance of the individual human being as well as the harmony of creation, starting with the poorest of the poor.
This closeness of the Father - Pope Francis explains - was also manifested in the ministry of Jesus, who with compassion "He came to the sick in body and spirit and healed them; he forgave sinners and gave them new life."He healed us by freeing us from the slavery of sin and death.
Today, therefore, it is up to the followers - the Christians - to show this adherence to the "....culture of careas did the core of the first generation, practicing generosity so that none of them would be in need, making the community "...".a welcoming home, open to all human situations, ready to take care of the most fragile of people".
The social doctrine of the Church
To illuminate this path "of spiritual and corporal mercy"The Holy Father proposes some principles of the Church's social doctrine, a precious patrimony".from which to extract the "grammar"of carethe promotion of the dignity of the human person - "the promotion of the dignity of the human person" - "the promotion of the dignity of the human person".an end in itself, never a mere instrument to be appreciated only for its utility."solidarity with the poor and the helpless - which is seen as "not as a statistic, or a means to be exploited and then discarded when it is no longer useful, but as our neighbor, our companion on the road."concern for the common good, taking into account "....its effects on the entire human family, bearing in mind the consequences for the present and for future generations"and the safeguarding of creation, as is abundantly explained in the encyclicalLaudato si'.
This "compass" of principles is offered by the Pope to all those responsible for nations, for the economic and scientific world, for communication and education, in order to give a new direction to the process of globalization, as something that challenges all of us together".to become prophets and witnesses of the culture of care, to overcome so many social differences". The Pontiff then says he is convinced that all this will be possible ".only with a strong and broad protagonism of women in the family and in all social, political and institutional spheres.".
This document makes a new appeal to stop investing in arms and other military expenditures, and to allocate these resources to a world fund for the definitive elimination of hunger, thus contributing to the development of the poorest countries, as already requested last October at the World Food Day.
A family task
This whole process of inculturation cannot do without education, which, according to the Pope, must necessarily be promoted in the family - which "... must be a family, a community, a community of believers...".it is necessary to put the family in a position to fulfill this vital and indispensable task."- in collaboration with schools, universities, but also the subjects of social communication, "called upon to transmit a system of values"The Church's role in the world must be respected, with respect for all peoples, all traditions and the fundamental rights that derive from them, without forgetting the role of the Church in the world.
All these aspects, brought together and carried out in a global and interdependent manner, can truly advance all peoples".towards a new horizon of love and peace, of fraternity and solidarity, of mutual support and hospitality.".
Joseph's example
Taking a step back, references to this approach to care also appear in the recent Apostolic Letter Patris CordePope Francis inaugurated the Year of St. Joseph last December 8, with which he pronounced beautiful words for every Christian to follow.
In this context, referring to Mary's spouse, the Pope emphasizes his "creative courage"This is demonstrated on all those occasions when the family of Nazareth was faced with difficulties, from the lack of lodging before giving birth to the flight into Egypt. On all the occasions when Joseph - as God does with each of his children -, animated by this desire to "take care" (of the wife, of the child) preserves those treasures that the Lord had entrusted to him, he shows the true meaning of responsibility and stewardship.
The precedents
If one considers the previous seven years of his pontificate and the messages suggested by Pope Francis for this special World Day that has turned fifty, a common thread stands out in the themes that are emphasized-emblematically-beyond the actuality of the human phenomenon in its historical context: aspects related precisely to care.
In the first two years, 2014 and 2015, "fraternity" was in fact the key theme of the Pope's reflection at the beginning of each calendar year. Then, the need to overcome indifference, to overcome violence, to take care of migrants and refugees, also through good politics, as well as dialogue, reconciliation and ecological conversion, last year.
