Implementing Pope Francis’ Vision
Outreach to the Poor, Soldiers of Peace, Stewards of Creation
Presented on the Occasion
Of The Dorothy Day Lecture
Saint Thomas Aquinas
The Catholic Center at Purdue University
March 27, 2014
By Bishop Richard Pates
Bishop of Des Moines
Chairman, Committee on International Justice & Peace
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
INTRODUCTION
I am very happy to have been able to accept Father Baikaúskas’ invitation to join you for the Dorothy Day Lecture.
It is an honor to be among “Boiler” Catholics and to be in Boilermaker territory and the prestigious Purdue University Campus. Your Bishop, Timothy Doherty has spoken fondly of Purdue University, the intellectual stimulus it generates and, in particular, the blessing that St. Thomas Aquinas, The Catholic Center at Purdue University is.
I would also like to thank Dee Bernhardt, Mike Ehlert, Seth Lindsay, Katie Chastek, Erica Papa, and Joseph Lutz for the gracious hospitality and all that they did to arrange this gathering.
My topic also integrates well with the person honored by this lecture – Dorothy Day. Long before it was popular, Dorothy was one to frequent the peripheries of our communities and identify and uplift the poor who live there. Along with Pope Francis she identified their dignity and engaging characteristics before entering into partnership to be of help to them.
Secondly, Dorothy was a pacifist especially advocating the elimination of nuclear weapons from the arsenal of any of the world’s nations. The Pope’s antidote to war is: “dialogue, dialogue, dialogue assisted also by our prayers, fasting and ongoing support with the same goal-elimination of the fire power that is both destructive and wasteful.
On March 13th, the Church and the world paused and in moments of reflection savored the gift of Pope Francis. Virtually unknown outside Argentina and Latin America a year ago, he has come onto the world stage and has captured hearts across the globe uplifting spirit and generating hope.
When it became clear that he was to be elected Successor of Peter by his brother cardinals, his friend, Cardinal Hummes, leaned into him and confided, “Jorge, do not forget the poor.” Touched by this advice, Cardinal Bergoglio relates that it came upon him that a papal name conveying this sentiment of attention to the poor is Francis of Assisi. Thus was born Pope Francis.
This evening I have entitled my talk:
Implementing Pope Francis’ Vision –
Outreach to the Poor, Soldiers of Peace, Stewards of Creation
Outreach to the Poor
One characteristic that Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis share is they are remarkably free. With this freedom they are able to witness to truth and reality.
Francis of Assisi was born of a privileged class. His father was a successful clothing merchant and in his early years Francis willingly participated in the life of leisure and pleasure. Over time, through an ongoing progressive change, he was weaned of this lifestyle and was gradually immersed in a simple radical way of living – described as that of poverty whereby he chose to forego personal ownership.
Francis’ decision incurred the wrath of his father. Nonetheless, Francis was locked into a new way of life. The conversion of his heart had tied him to Jesus. He was absorbed with God’s vision in which he experienced and embraced mercy and love.
The classical evangelical dictum is attributed to him “preach always and when necessary use words.” As a result, “the whole world found refuge, the poor, the sick, and the fallen being the objects of his solicitude in a more special manner.” (Catholic Encyclopedia, St. Francis of Assisi).
Aided by a winsome, charismatic personality people of all societal strata identified with Francis and were inspired to transform their lives and join him as disciples of Jesus. This transformation was embraced over the centuries by countless generations. Communities dedicated to the spirit he generated became a permanent fixture in God’s household of the Church. Francis introduced the radical simplicity of the Gospel, self-induced poverty, and care for the poor.
The description of Francis’ funeral is very moving. Only the center of his body was covered with a simple cloth. In this expression of openness, thousands on the funeral route witnessed the saint’s commitment and total dependence on his creator. Striking was the stigmata – the five wounds embedded in his flesh revealing the total identity that he had achieved with Jesus.
Now comes Pope Francis. People everywhere are struck by his humility – an expression of interior poverty. His papal dress is simple. His living situation is normal. The public took notice that he paid his hotel bill after his papal election. He rides in an ordinary car. He is accessible by phone and mail. He speaks in a language easily understood.
That is why his commitment to the poor is so convincing. On Good Thursday he went to a jail for underage criminals and lovingly washed their feet no matter man or woman, believer or atheist. He showed God’s love in portraying Jesus’ gesture of a servant.
Early on in his papacy he went to the Isle of Lampedusa, South of Italy, where he paid tribute to the thousands of refugees who died either by neglect or lack of respect for their human dignity. In so doing, he called attention to the millions who are reluctantly on the move or are displaced because of inadequate living conditions, war or oppression.
Further examples of the Pope witnessing to human dignity were his visit to a favela in Rio de Janeiro and then his inviting three homeless men and one homeless dog for his birthday breakfast in Rome.
Our hearts are also moved as the Pope publicly embraces the elderly, the disfigured and those severely challenged physically. His favorite word when relating to these brothers and sisters is that of tenderness. Our hearts must express through our eyes love and acceptance for each of these individuals – if we are truly to be Christ for them. With Jesus, we must not be afraid to reach out and touch their flesh so that they can experience the warmth and connection of a fellow human.
The Pope encourages us to go to the periphery of our communities to encounter those living on the edge. This is where Jesus concentrated much of his ministry and where the recipients of his message genuinely appreciated the call to repentance and change. It is where the Body of Christ, the Church, should be.
The underlying message that Pope Francis wants most to convey is the dignity and value of each of these persons. He trumpets the call for us to come to know individuals who are poor, who are on the fringes and for us to come to know them as friends whom we address by name. This outreach overcomes the categorizing of people and opens the door to understand and sympathize with their situation.
From day one, the Holy Father professed that he wanted to see a Church that is poor and for the poor. This vision emanates from the attitude of Jesus who in the words of the letter to Philippians “Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8) Out of Jesus’ poverty was born the wealth by which we are immeasurably enriched.
And thus it is true for us, too, who are called to works of justice and charity and seek to end or alleviate material or abject poverty. We are called to a spiritual poverty in our identity as disciples of Jesus. In our leadership as witnessed by countless examples in Scripture our service will be most authentic when it is humble and even remorseful rather than prideful.
The Pope in his Apostolic Exhortation “Joy of the Gospel” raises the question: how would the Church be a more powerful witness as a Church that is poor and for the poor? He contends that this would come about by an increase in servant leadership among the wealthy and powerful of our society. Indeed, he is penetrating the corridors of “so-called” power with his message. Anecdotally, I have experienced how Pope Francis has stirred reaction. I spoke individually with three U.S. Congressmen recently and when the subject of Pope Francis was introduced each spontaneously said, “I like Pope Francis.” On another occasion, a wealthy influential businessman told me the Pope had gotten under his craw especially regarding lifestyle and what is truly meaningful and of lasting significance.
As a companion to this secular component the Pope raises the question: what difference would there be in an increase in desirable spiritual poverty in various ways we exercise leadership in the Church? And what might it mean if our ministries and our civic efforts demonstrate the leadership that highlights the bonds of kinship and moral responsibility rather than pridefullness or quickness to divide, label or blame others?
The insight that Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis have captured is the unity of person and mission. They learned such by their profound personal integration with Jesus. Jesus lives in them and his mission becomes their mission. Thus, they speak with authenticity and walk in humility. They embrace the truth that it is in pouring ourselves out in becoming poor that we facilitate the opening of the doors of true wealth to others.
Humanizing and personalizing interaction with the poor captures the vision of Jesus and provides the foundation to advocate for social justice. For our political and social systems oftentimes shut out so many from the possibility of a dignified way of life. Bolstered by a lifestyle that engenders credibility, the Holy Father is intent on breaking down barriers to enable social justice to be accepted.
The Pope in his teaching, to date, has highlighted an area which urgently needs to be addressed: the right and absolute need for meaningful work. On the feast of St. Joseph, the Holy Father stressed how essential his carpentry skill was to Mary and Jesus in providing for them and establishing family security and culture. How many families suffer today from the lack of productive work? In the framework of society we need to give first priority to the provision of work. Work is integrally tied to a dignified life, both for the young adult and the family throughout its lifespan.
In his Apostolic Exhortation, the Pope confronts the reality of a system of economics which relegates people to the chains of poverty. His strong views prompted Rush Limbaugh to designate him as a Marxist. Not so, the Pope is once again insisting on the perennial social teaching of the Church that the economy exists for man. Man does not exist for the economy. In the Apostolic Exhortation; Joy of the Gospel, the Pope states: “We have created new idols. The worship of the ancient golden calf has returned in a new and ruthless guise in the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose.” (55)
Both Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis are not burdened by a dependence on material things. Nor are they chained to an ideology or pattern of thought that inhibits relationship with the poor, suffering or outcast. Characteristic of who they are is that they have been converted, transformed, opened to a reality that allows them to see as God sees and unleashes the greatest freedom of all – the freedom to love and the ability to witness to this love through the humble pouring out of themselves for the sake of others.
SOLDIERS OF PEACE
St. Francis of Assisi envisioned peace as the balance of nature throughout creation. In the different levels of relationships he saw the individual person as the key to tranquility, to a peaceful coexistence.
His prayer has motivated the hearts of all of us.
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Pope Francis too is a man committed to peace. As a world leader he challenges us to peace and leave behind the impulse to hatred, vengeance and the futility of war.
On September 7, 2013, in a vigil for peace dedicated to rescind the U.S. threat of bombing in Syria, the Holy Father raised the question: “And at this point I ask myself: Is it possible to walk the path of peace? Can we get out of this spiral of sorrow and death? Can we learn once again to walk and live in the ways of peace?”
The Holy Father had heroically intervened in the widening specter of extended conflict in Syria by the threat of U.S. bombing strikes. He wrote to President Putin to enlist world leaders gathered in St. Petersburg, Russia attempting to thwart this possibility.
He then called for prayer and fasting by people of peace and of good will. It was centered in a Saturday evening prayer vigil in St. Peter’s Square which was replicated across the world.
Through the intervention of leading world powers, Syria agreed to dismantle its stockpile of chemical weapons and dispose of them under international supervision. Peace discussions have been undertaken in trying to resolve the Syrian crisis but they have stalemated. In the midst of this scenario Pope Francis insists that dialogue, dialogue, dialogue is the only pathway to the resolution of hardened differences resulting in armed conflict.