Fr. Lazar Arasu SDB
“Being human” denotes ‘being a man of the people, being down to earth, being benevolent and accommodative to everyone.’ The word ‘human’ when used as an adjective, means being close to the simple, being practical, taking hold of life and finding ways to reach-out to neighbours and those in need. The parable of the Good Samaritan is perhaps an outstanding allegory on humanism. The story of the Good Samaritan is brought alive in the church and in today’s society by Pope Francis. The Pope wants the Church to be ‘human’: to reach-out to people, especially those living in margins of the world’s economy, human rights and basic needs. His catch-word is ‘periphery’. In his first address to the Church, the Pontiff, said, “I want the Church to be poor and for the poor.” He believes that it is the poor who will save the church and stand by the church.
As the chief shepherd of the Church, when talking to the priests and other members of the hierarchy, the pope always insists on avoiding clericalism—a vice which according to him is power seeking, being aloof to people and being above the ordinariness of life; making the world go around one person, boosting one’s own ego and being self-centred. After the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013, the papal conclave elected Bergoglio as the new Pope. He opted to reside in the ‘Domus Sanctae Marthae’ guest house rather than papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace. He refused the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election and preferred his piscatory ring to be silver instead of gold. These actions have justified his persona of a simple clergyman working for faith and the people rather than fame and power.
Pope Francis is praised for his humanistic way of approaching life. Humanism in this respect is denotes ‘the system or mode of thought or action in which human interests, values, and dignity predominate.’ If we Christianize it as Religious Humanism, it can be defined as, ‘a system that is an integration of humanist ethical philosophy with religious rituals and beliefs that centre on human needs, interests and abilities.’ Perhaps, Pope Francis is a typical Religious Humanist of our times. But, he also goes beyond religious circles. The Pontiff himself seems to be happy to call himself a Religious (Christian) Humanist. At the Fifth National Convention of the Italian Church in October 2015, he said, “I don’t want to design in the abstract a ‘new humanism,’ a certain idea of man, but to present with simplicity some features of the practical Christian humanism that is present in the ‘mind’ of Christ Jesus.” He wants to lay out his vision for “a new humanism in Christ Jesus.”
The Holy Father said, “humanism should take its starting point from “the centrality of Jesus… in whom we discover the features of the authentic face of man.” The Pope bases himself on the words of St. Paul to the Christians of Philippi: “Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus.” What is this attitude? Then the Pope suggests three specific traits of Jesus: humility, disinterest and happiness. Jesus himself explains this in the beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount.The Pope often says, “closeness to people and prayer are the keys to living a Christian humanism” that is “popular, humble, generous, happy.” “If we lose this contact with the faithful people of God, we lose humanity and we’re not going anywhere.” “We can speak about humanism only by starting from the centrality of Jesus, discovering in Him the features of the authentic face of man,” the Pope would say. “We must not domesticate the power of the face of Christ.”
Pope’s several quotable quotes highlight these traits of Jesus. “No one can grow if he does not accept his smallness. …” I think that we succumb to attitudes that do not permit us to dialogue: domination, not knowing how to listen, annoyance in our speech, preconceived judgments and so many others. …Humility, meekness, magnanimity and love to preserve unity are the true roads of the Church. Only these traits of Jesus that are made alive by Pope Francis will save not only the Church, but the entire humanity.
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