The Papacy, the Last Bastion of Anti-Capitalist Feudal Socialism. And yet our current *Pontifex Maximus *is as much a rationalist as Gaius Julius Caesar when he occupied the office in the bygone *Res Publica. *That is saying something given the times.
On Sun, Oct 4, 2020 at 8:33 PM John A Imani <[email protected]> wrote: > ENCYCLICAL LETTER > > *FRATELLI TUTTI*OF THE HOLY FATHER > > *FRANCIS*ON THE FRATERNITY AND SOCIAL FRIENDSHIP > > > > 1. *“FRATELLI TUTTI”.*[1] > <http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html#_ftn1> > With these words, Saint Francis of Assisi addressed his brothers and > sisters and proposed to them a way of life marked by the flavour of the > Gospel. Of the counsels Francis offered, I would like to select the one in > which he calls for a love that transcends the barriers of geography and > distance, and declares blessed all those who love their brother “as much > when he is far away from him as when he is with him”.[2] > <http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html#_ftn2> > In his simple and direct way, Saint Francis expressed the essence of a > fraternal openness that allows us to acknowledge, appreciate and love each > person, regardless of physical proximity, regardless of where he or she was > born or lives. > > 2. This saint of fraternal love, simplicity and joy, who inspired me to > write the Encyclical * Laudato Si’ > <http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html>*, > prompts me once more to devote this new Encyclical to fraternity and social > friendship. Francis felt himself a brother to the sun, the sea and the > wind, yet he knew that he was even closer to those of his own flesh. > Wherever he went, he sowed seeds of peace and walked alongside the poor, > the abandoned, the infirm and the outcast, the least of his brothers and > sisters. > > WITHOUT BORDERS > > 3. There is an episode in the life of Saint Francis that shows his > openness of heart, which knew no bounds and transcended differences of > origin, nationality, colour or religion. It was his visit to Sultan > Malik-el-Kamil, in Egypt, which entailed considerable hardship, given > Francis’ poverty, his scarce resources, the great distances to be traveled > and their differences of language, culture and religion. That journey, > undertaken at the time of the Crusades, further demonstrated the breadth > and grandeur of his love, which sought to embrace everyone. Francis’ > fidelity to his Lord was commensurate with his love for his brothers and > sisters. Unconcerned for the hardships and dangers involved, Francis went > to meet the Sultan with the same attitude that he instilled in his > disciples: if they found themselves “among the Saracens and other > nonbelievers”, without renouncing their own identity they were not to > “engage in arguments or disputes, but to be subject to every human creature > for God’s sake”.[3] > <http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html#_ftn3> > In the context of the times, this was an extraordinary recommendation. We > are impressed that some eight hundred years ago Saint Francis urged that > all forms of hostility or conflict be avoided and that a humble and > fraternal “subjection” be shown to those who did not share his faith. > > Complete at > http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html#_ftnref1 > > JAI > > > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#2239): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/2239 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/77309850/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/8674936/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
