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Fratelli Tutti: A Discussion of Pope Francis’s Encyclical with Bishop John Stowe

December 9, 2020 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm EST

About This Conversation

Pandemic disease, extreme nationalism, poverty, refugees and nuclear weapons all cross borders. In his third encyclical, a teaching letter from the Pope, Pope Francis argued that no nation can answer them alone. A discussion of the encyclical, Fratelli Tutti: On Fraternity and Social Friendship, was held online on Wednesday 9 December 2020. Its case for a politics of fraternity across borders spoke directly to the work of Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS).

David Orton opened with a summary of the 287-paragraph letter. It calls for a world authority regulated by law and a reformed United Nations. It also calls for the arts of peace alongside the architecture of peace. Bishop Stowe then reflected on how Francis puts Catholic social teaching at the center of the Church. He also reflected on the parable of the Good Samaritan. A long question period followed.

Speakers

Bishop John Stowe was Bishop of Lexington, a member of the CGS National Advisory Council and president of Pax Christi USA, a Catholic peace movement. David Orton led the CGS religion and spirituality outreach team. Sister Carla Mae Streeter, a Dominican sister and theologian, also spoke. Donna Park, chair of the CGS Education Fund board, hosted.

Titles are as of the event date.

Key Themes

The group returned to the encyclical’s call for the force of law rather than the law of force. It also returned to the point that changed attitudes must accompany new institutions. Stowe and Orton noted that Catholic teaching has called for a world public authority since John XXIII’s Peace on Earth. One member asked what a world government would do if one state attacked another. Park said the CGS vision would outlaw war and try in court the individuals who ordered it. Members also discussed how to bring the encyclical to parishes and other faith communities.

In 2022 CGS gave Pope Francis the CGS Global Citizen Award: see the 2022 Annual Conference. See also the upcoming CGS events.

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