"Our Winning Weapons"

I had thought of dedicating this post to Pope Francis' letter about the Amazon: the apostolic exhortation "Querida Amazonia" which follows the synod of October 2019; in this letter, on several occasions, the Pope speaks of the role of the elderly: they can give young people anchors that help them meet today's challenges (Querida Amazonia 33-34, 70).

But here comes a new challenge to provoke the whole world: the health challenge posed by the pandemic linked to the virus called COVID 19. The countries where LAI is present are affected, from Taiwan to Peru, from Senegal to Europe. I can't help but talk about it. This epidemic is a source of suffering, mourning, worry. It manifests the fragility of our societies. It is the occasion for admirable devotion, sacrifice and beautiful gestures of solidarity.

But how can we not see that it highlights inequalities around the world: inequality in access to care, inequality in housing conditions for those who are forced to confine, inequality in working conditions: some may engage in telework, others are forced to run risks of contamination in their workplace, others are deprived of work and for many this means deprived of resources. The finding is, alas, easy to make. Can it lead to an awareness that will help that tomorrow is different from yesterday and today? When the virus has left us in peace, will solidarity be found again?

In the storm facing our world, the voice of Pope Francis has been heard. Speaking in Rome, in the rain, in front of a completely empty St. Peter's Square, he commented on the passage of the Gospel of St. Mark (Mark 4,35-41) where the boat of the disciples is caught in a violent storm while Jesus sleeps at the back of the boat. "Master, we are lost. Doesn't it matter to you?” say the disciples who think that Jesus does not care about them. This sentence touches Jesus because he, more than anyone, cares about us. Commenting on this passage of the Gospel, the Pope invites an examination of conscience: have we listened to the cry of the poor and of our seriously ill planet? Have we woken up in face of global wars and injustices?  The Pope also proposes a path of conversion: to separate what is necessary from what is not; redirect the path of life to the Lord and to others. "Prayer and service: these are our winning weapons."

The homily pronounced by the Holy Father is to be read in its entirety. Two days later, Pope Francis spoke again to invite us to see further. He joined the UN Secretary-General in his call for an end to conflicts: if we do not suspend the war, how can we end the epidemic? "That the common commitment against the pandemic can lead everyone to recognize our need to strengthen fraternal ties as members of the same family." To establish links, those within our reach, to fight against isolation, is to contribute to "writing today the decisive events of our history", is to manifest in our daily life the strength of faith that frees from fear and gives hope.

+François Maupu