On we go as we explore Pope Francis’ Fratelli tutti. Last month we saw that he dared to suggest doing a new kind of politics. This month we will explore what he calls “Dialogue and Friendship in Society” (#198-224). Don’t be deceived. What he suggests is more challenging than politics!
Real dialogue is quite different from debate. In debate there is
competition, and someone wins and someone must lose. Not in dialogue. Genuine dialogue means we respect another’s point of view even if we disagree, and we admit that it may have some real truth I need to attend to (#203). This dignity that we accept in the other is not something we have invented. Every human being possesses an intrinsic worth. As we speak with them they will sense that we do or do not honor this (#213). Ignoring this intrinsic worth will eventually erupt in some form of violence, verbal or worse (#219).
We have a lot to learn from people who are very different from us: indigenous people, those of another race or religion, or those with very different politics. We are actually unjust when we regard them merely as obstacles or annoyances (#222).
What Francis suggests is rather surprising.He suggests we simply be kind. Yes, he suggests we deliberately call on the virtue of kindness. At the very least, he says, we resist being rude or speaking words that demean, sadden, show anger or scorn (#223). Kindness opens up the search for consensus. Hostility and conflict instead burn all bridges. Kindness listens, questions for further understanding, and then offers an alternative view or opinion.
He’s right. It bridges. It makes friends. It works!
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