Rev. Paulson Mundanmani: Pope’s call to social friendship
On Oct. 3, Pope Francis signed a new encyclical letter on “the social, political and economic obligations that flow from a belief that all people are children of God and therefore brothers and sisters to one another.” An encyclical is a pastoral letter addressed by the pope to the whole Church. Encyclical letters generally address matters of faith or morals, encourage a particular commemoration or pious devotion, or deal with matters of Church discipline that are to be universally observed.
The document is titled “Fratelli Tutti” in Italian, which immediately set off a social- media firestorm about its gender-exclusive construction. The literal translation from the Italian is “All Brothers” or “Brothers all.” To understand the Italian titular origins, one must first understand the context of the text that inspired the document’s name. The title comes from the writings of St. Francis of Assisi, the namesake of Pope Francis. The specific line in question comes from Admonition VI, one of 28 exhortations or mini-homilies that St. Francis delivered to his brother friars. Admonition V starts in this way: “Let all of us, brothers, consider the Good Shepherd who bore the suffering of the cross to save His sheep.”
The encyclical begins with an anecdote from the life of St. Francis. In 1219, St. Francis and Brother Illuminato accompanied the armies of western Europe to Damietta, Egypt, during the Fifth Crusade. His desire was to speak peacefully with Muslim people about Christianity, even if it meant dying as a martyr. He tried to stop the Crusaders from attacking the Muslims at the Battle of Damietta but failed. After the defeat of the western armies, he crossed the battle line with Brother Illuminato, was arrested and beaten by Arab soldiers, and eventually was taken to the sultan, Malek al-Kamil.
Al-Kamil was known as a kind, generous, fair ruler. He was nephew to the great Salah al-Din. At Damietta alone, he offered peace to the Crusaders five times and, according to western accounts, treated defeated Crusaders humanely. His goal was to establish a peaceful coexistence with Christians.
After an initial attempt by Francis and the sultan to convert the other, both quickly realized that the other already knew and loved God. Francis and Illuminato remained with al-Kamil and his Sufi teacher, Fakhr addin al-Farisi, for as many as 20 days, discussing prayer and the mystical life.
When Francis left, al-Kamil gave him an ivory trumpet, which is still preserved in the crypt of the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi.
This encounter is a paradigm for interfaith dialogue in our time. Despite differences in religion, people of prayer can find common ground in their experiences of God. Dialogue demands that we truly listen to the other; but, before we can listen, we must see the other as a precious human being, loved by God. There is no other path to peace in this bloody 21st century.
Fratelli Tutti is a response to “present-day attempts to eliminate or ignore others” and instead to promote “a new vision of fraternity and social friendship.” The encyclical appeals to all to “acknowledge, appreciate and love each person, regardless of physical proximity, regardless of where he or she was born or lives.”
St. Francis is a saint of fraternal love, simplicity and joy who inspired Pope Francis to write the encyclical “Laudato Si” (“The Joy of the Gospel”), and also prompted him once more to devote this new encyclical to fraternity and social friendship. St. Francis felt himself a brother to the sun, the sea and the wind, yet he knew that he was even closer to those of his own flesh.
The Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb, cosigned the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together with Pope Francis in February 2019 in Abu Dhabi. Via twitter, the Grand Imam said: “My brother, Pope Francis’s message, Fratelli Tutti, is an extension of the Document on Human Fraternity, and reveals a global reality in which the vulnerable and marginalized pay the price for unstable positions and decisions… . It is a message that is directed to people of good will, whose consciences are alive and restores to humanity consciousness.”
The Rev. Paulson Mundanmani is pastor of St. Stephen Catholic Parish in Walnut Creek and Christ the King Catholic Community of Pleasant Hill.
