Catholic Social Services hosted Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, at its annual Breakfast with the Bishop on Friday, Sept. 13 at the Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel.
Cardinal Pierre addressed the topic “How to Walk as Neighbors in a Modern World” as he applied Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti to the work Catholic Social Services does in the community around the theme of neighbors serving neighbors.
He likened the work of Catholic Social Services to that of St. Francis of Assisi, who, like the Good Samaritan, believed that each person is called to be a neighbor to all.
The cardinal focused his remarks on the four central themes of the Fratelli Tutti: 1) the gift of time; 2) creating community; 3) rejecting the society of exclusion; and 4) “Rights without Borders.”
With respect to giving time, he explained that this is the most valuable gift we have to give to another person. He said that spending time to focus on another person honors his or her dignity while helping the individual become more human as well.
He added that creating community is also a gift for the giver and for others. Cardinal Pierre encouraged each person to create and expand community by including people who we may have overlooked, or even excluded, in the past.
This sets the stage for the third theme to walk as neighbors: rejecting exclusion. Too often there is a focus exclusively on the accumulation of wealth, materialism and resources at the expense of sharing with and caring for others. Everyone has a universal right to God’s creation and a right to what they need to live in dignity.
The cardinal stated that there is a common responsibility to include others in the life God has intended for all people.
Finally, Cardinal Pierre addressed the theme of “Rights without Borders.” In the community, in doing God’s work, we come face to face with real people from different backgrounds and cultures who have real needs.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), Jesus illustrated how all people are to care for others. Looking at everyone as brothers and sisters, humans are called to the example provided, to be heralds of hope: the Good Samaritan. This calling to be neighbors to others requires co-responsibility in caring for people experiencing poverty, hunger, loneliness, disability and mental health challenges.
Cardinal Pierre went on to say that the Gospel calls everyone to meet the needs of others and treat them in accordance with their God-given dignity.
“Catholic Social Services is very concrete in the way that it applies Gospel principles to the lives of people in your local community,” he said.
“By being involved with Catholic Social Services, you are able to live out the principle of universal fraternity at the local level.”
The Cardinal closed his remarks noting that there are opportunities to become a neighbor to someone in need by giving time, creating community and fostering inclusion and dignity to follow the example of Christ.
To learn more about becoming a neighbor to others through giving of time, talents or resources, contact Julie Naporano at 614-857-1236 or jnaporano@colscss.org.