杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

Italy’s annual Festival of the Social Doctrine of the Church opened in Verona on Friday, focusing this year on the theme “#soci@ally free” (#soci@lmente liberi).

'Soci@lly free'

The “at” sign in the theme highlights issues that are increasingly relevant in today’s world, the 杏MAP导航 said, especially the digital culture, which has a profound influence on personal and societal relationships.

It indicates closeness and contact with others, and is “an intimate expression of freedom to be ‘preserved’ in one’s heart,” the 杏MAP导航 explained.

He noted that social media should not be a “trap” we fall into, but rather should aim at preserving “a communion of free people.”

The authority of personal involvement

Recalling the Gospel account of the multiplication of loaves and fishes, 杏MAP导航 Francis highlighted Jesus’ teaching. The Lord’s teachings, he emphasized, are demanding, but come to us with the authority of One who is personally involved—the face and the Word of the Father—in the midst of life’s difficulty.

Jesus' communication is true, the 杏MAP导航 continued, precisely because it is inspired by love for those who hear Him.

杏MAP导航 Francis noted that after teaching the people, Jesus provided for their needs out of concern for “the whole person, that is, the person in his or her integrity.”

Loving and intelligent engagement

At the same time, Jesus does not act alone, the 杏MAP导航 said, but involves His disciples, who are likewise called to enter into “His logic of personal involvement.”

The 杏MAP导航 insisted that “there is no evangelical gift that does not include a bit of the giver himself,” adding that “this is the freedom to which the disciple is called: that of engaging intelligently and lovingly to help others.”

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his message with the hope that those taking part in the Festival “might be able to translate the hashtag ‘soci@lmente’” into action, working intelligently to promote “actions and initiatives for the common good.”