Fraternity and social friendshipThe encyclical’s title is a direct quotation from the Admonitions of St. Francis. Fratelli Tutti addresses both fraternity and social friendship; together they are the central message of his text. The realism that runs through the pages dissolves any romantic emptiness that always lurks about whenever we speak of fraternity. Francis wrote in one of his messages: “While solidarity is the principle of social planning that allows the unequal to become equal, fraternity is what allows the equal to embrace different people.”Recognising fraternity changes our perspectives, turning them upside down. So, fraternity is the solid basis for living “social friendship”, which combines rights with responsibility for the common good and embraces diversity with the recognition of a radical fraternity.

Source: The Herald October 09, 2020 22:18 UTC