杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

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

'Soci@lly free'

The 鈥渁t鈥� sign in the theme highlights issues that are increasingly relevant in today鈥檚 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 鈥渁n intimate expression of freedom to be 鈥榩reserved鈥� in one鈥檚 heart,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 explained.

He noted that social media should not be a 鈥渢rap鈥� we fall into, but rather should aim at preserving 鈥渁 communion of free people.鈥�

The authority of personal involvement

Recalling the Gospel account of the multiplication of loaves and fishes, 杏MAP导航 Francis highlighted Jesus鈥� teaching. The Lord鈥檚 teachings, he emphasized, are demanding, but come to us with the authority of One who is personally involved鈥攖he face and the Word of the Father鈥攊n the midst of life鈥檚 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 鈥渢he whole person, that is, the person in his or her integrity.鈥�

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 鈥淗is logic of personal involvement.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 insisted that 鈥渢here is no evangelical gift that does not include a bit of the giver himself,鈥� adding that 鈥渢his is the freedom to which the disciple is called: that of engaging intelligently and lovingly to help others.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his message with the hope that those taking part in the Festival 鈥渕ight be able to translate the hashtag 鈥榮oci@lmente鈥欌�� into action, working intelligently to promote 鈥渁ctions and initiatives for the common good.鈥�