Global Dialogues

Pope Francis was a remarkable pope. His idea of human fraternity and even for “political love” as expressed in his 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti, was certainly put to the test during the global pandemic of 2020. Masses were suspended for months and people could not receive the sacraments. 

 Francis understood that the pandemic was causing a crisis of faith for many. People across the globe wondered where God was in the midst of the death and dying. Arguably, the pandemic understandably moved many away from human fraternity and instead to suspicion. The other was treated not unlike the way lepers were once treated: with fear, disregard, isolation. Instead of finding God in the other, people started to regard the other as a potential disease carrier, to be avoided at all costs. Even handshakes were frowned upon for fear of catching the disease.

Francis understood this challenge, and responded to the crisis with urgency, understanding and mercy. At the special Urbi et Orbi prayer service on March 27, 2020, he referred to the gospel passage in Mark 4:35-41, pointing out that not unlike the disciples who feared for their lives as a storm was tossing their boat, COVID-19 also represented a storm that threatened all of our lives. Francis also observed that this scriptural passage is the only time that Jesus can be found sleeping. 

In his words: 

Like the disciples in the Gospel we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm. We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other. On this boat… are all of us. Just like those disciples, who spoke anxiously with one voice, saying “We are perishing” (v. 38), so we too have realized that we cannot go on thinking of ourselves, but only together can we do this. 

Pope Francis’s counter-cultural idea for human fraternity and for political love was his remedy to the COVID-19 pandemic. Francis emphasized that just as the disciples in the boat realized they must work together to survive, humanity must unite and help one another. Pope Francis boils everything down to human fraternity and love: we never really know what the other is dealing with, so we are always called to show empathy and understanding. 

We are called to row together, not just during the pandemic but every day.