杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

It was Jesuit Superior General, Fr Pedro Arrupe, who created what was then called the Jesuit Secretariat for Socio-Economic Development, in 1969.  

In his address on Thursday to what is now the Jesuit Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat, 杏MAP导航 Francis said: 鈥淔ather Pedro always believed that the service of faith and the promotion of justice cannot be separated, because they are radically united鈥�.

Serving the poor

From the time of Saint Ignatius, the Society of Jesus was called 鈥渢o serve the poor鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. In the poor we find 鈥渁 privileged place of encounter with Christ鈥�, he continued. 鈥淚t is a precious gift to meet Him among those who are victims and impoverished鈥�.

Addressing members of the Jesuit Secretariat directly, 杏MAP导航 Francis urged them always to remain close to the most vulnerable. 鈥淥ur broken and divided world needs to build bridges鈥�, he said. Human encounters allow us to discover, in the most marginalized, the beautiful face of a brother and sister, in whom we recognize ourselves, said the 杏MAP导航.

Following Jesus

Following Christ today means serving 鈥渢he crucified of our time鈥�, continued 杏MAP导航 Francis. He gave examples of the wars being fought 鈥減iecemeal鈥� around the world, of human trafficking, xenophobia, inequalities, and 鈥渢he selfish pursuit of national interests鈥�.

To these, the 杏MAP导航 added the fact that 鈥淣ever have we so hurt and mistreated our common home as we have in the last two hundred years鈥�. Not surprisingly, he said, 鈥渢he deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet鈥�.

Following Jesus in these circumstances begins by 鈥渁ccompanying the victims鈥�, and continues in paying attention to human needs, 鈥渞eflecting on the reality of the world to unmask its evils鈥�, and discovering the most effective and creative responses.

A cultural revolution

杏MAP导航 Francis insisted we go further: 鈥淲e need a true 鈥榗ultural revolution鈥欌��, he said, 鈥渁 transformation of our collective gaze, our attitudes, our ways of seeing ourselves鈥�. We need to undertake 鈥渢he slow work of changing structures, through participation in public dialogue, where decisions are made that affect the lives of the most vulnerable鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 urged those present to continue their 鈥渃reative commitment鈥� in the service of the poorest and refugees, defending human rights and providing social services in many fields. He encouraged them to 鈥渃ollaborate in a network among yourselves and with other ecclesial and civil organizations鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, in order to ensure 鈥渢he defense of the most underprivileged in this increasingly globalized world鈥�.

Paths to hope

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his address to members of the Jesuit Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat with an invitation to hope. 鈥淚f we pay attention to human logic alone, we run the risk of despairing鈥�, he said. Instead, 鈥渁ll of us are witnesses that the humblest, the exploited, the poor and excluded, can and do achieve a lot鈥�, he added.

The social apostolate is not to solve problems, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渂ut to promote processes and to encourage hope鈥�. These processes must help people and communities to grow, to be aware of their rights, to apply their talents, and create their own future, he said.

A challenge

杏MAP导航 Francis ended with a challenge: 鈥淪hare your hope wherever you are, encourage, console, comfort and invigorate. Open up the future, raise possibilities, generate alternatives, help to think and act differently鈥�.

鈥淲alk singing鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渟o that life鈥檚 struggles and worries鈥� don鈥檛 take away the joy that hope brings鈥�.