杏MAP导航 Francis: The power of education for a more fraternal humanity
By Vatican News
鈥淓ducation is a dynamic reality; it is a movement that brings people to light.鈥 Those were the words of 杏MAP导航 Francis to participants of the Plenary of the Congregation for Catholic Education.
Speaking to those gathered in the Vatican on Thursday, the 杏MAP导航 stated that education 鈥渋s a peculiar kind of movement, with characteristics that make it a dynamism of growth, oriented to the full development of the person in their individual and social dimension.鈥
Ecological movement
He went on to say, that one aspect of education 鈥渋s that it is an ecological movement.鈥
The 杏MAP导航 said that 鈥渆ducation that has at its centre the person in his or her integral reality has the purpose of bringing him or her to the knowledge of himself or herself, of the common home in which he or she lives, and above all to the discovery of fraternity as a relationship that produces the multicultural composition of humanity, a source of mutual enrichment.鈥
This educational movement, 杏MAP导航 Francis underlined 鈥渞equires, of course, educators capable of resetting the pedagogical itineraries of an ecological ethic, so that they may effectively help towards a growth in solidarity, responsibility and care based on compassion".
Inclusive movement
The Pontiff went on to describe education as a 鈥渁n inclusive movement.鈥 - an inclusion, he said, that works for the excluded and 鈥渢akes the form of educational actions in favour of refugees, victims of human trafficking, migrants, without any distinction of sex, religion or ethnicity.鈥
Inclusion is not a modern invention, he added, 鈥渂ut an integral part of the Christian saving message.鈥
The 杏MAP导航 highlighted that education 鈥渋s a peacemaking movement, a bearer of peace.鈥 He also noted that another typical element of education is that is it 鈥渁 team movement.鈥
He pointed out, however that 鈥渢his team movement has long been in crisis for various reasons.鈥
Global Educational Pact
With that in mind, 杏MAP导航 Francis told those present that he felt the need to promote a day for the global educational pact to be marked on May 14 next, which will be entrusted to the Congregation for Catholic Education.
The 杏MAP导航 described it as 鈥渁n appeal to all those who have political, administrative, religious and educational responsibilities to rebuild the 鈥榲illage of education鈥.鈥 The aim, he said, was to "to revive the commitment for and with the younger generations, renewing the passion for a more open and inclusive education, capable of patient listening, constructive dialogue and mutual understanding.鈥 The educational pact, he underlined needed to be 鈥渞evolutionary鈥.
鈥淣ever before, he continued, has there been such a need to unite efforts in a broad educational alliance to form mature people, capable of overcoming fragmentation and opposition and rebuild the fabric of relationships for a more fraternal humanity".
To achieve these goals takes courage, 杏MAP导航 Francis stressed, "the courage to put the person at the centre.鈥
In this broad horizon of education, the 杏MAP导航 encouraged those gathered to continue to make strides in the implementation of the pact for the coming years, in particular in the drafting of a Directory, and in the establishment of a World Observatory.
These are all commitments, he concluded, 鈥渨hich can contribute effectively to consolidating the pact, in the way taught to us by the Word of God鈥.
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