Pope Francis: My advice is always “dialogue, dialogue, dialogue
Rio, July 28, 2013: Pope Francis met with leading members of Brazilian society on
Saturday and stressed the importance of constructive dialogue, saying this was essential
at the present moment. “Between selfish indifference and violent protest," he said,
"there is always another possible option, that of dialogue.” The Pope also called
for more inclusive and humanistic economic and political process, eliminating “forms
of elitism” and eradicating poverty. In his address to the political, diplomatic,
cultural, religious, academic and business leaders of Brazil the Pope paid tribute
to the country’s distinct cultural tradition, looked at their joint responsibility
for building the future, and stressed the need for constructive dialogue in facing
the present moment. He told the leaders that the future demands of us a humanistic
vision of the economy and a politics capable of ensuring greater and more effective
participation on the part of all. This, he continued, is the road that we are called
to travel. The Pope went on to say that anyone exercising a role of leadership
needs to keep hope alive even in the face of disappointments, and be generous even
without apparent results. He said leaders make decisions in the present but should
always have an eye to the future, reflecting on the consequences of our decisions. Pope
Francis concluded his address by pointing to something which he considers essential
for facing the present moment: constructive dialogue. A country grows when constructive
dialogue occurs between its many rich cultural components. The Pope revealed that
when leaders in various fields ask him for advice, his response is always the same:
"Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue!" This, he said, is the only way for individuals, families
and societies to grow. He said fraternal relations between people and cooperation
in building a more just society are not some vague utopia but the fruit of a concerted
effort on the part of all, in service of the common good.
Please find below
the full text of Pope Francis' discourse to the people in roles of leadership:
Your
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good day. I thank God for the opportunity
to meet such a distinguished representation of the political, diplomatic, cultural
and religious, academic and business leaders of this immense country of Brazil. I
would like to speak to you in your own beautiful Portuguese language, but in order
to express more clearly what I carry in my heart, I prefer to speak in Spanish. Please
forgive me! I greet all of you most heartily and I express to you my gratitude.
I thank Don Orani and Mr Walmyr Júnior for their kind words of welcome, of introduction
and of witness. In you I see both memory and hope: the memory of your country’s history
and identity, and the hope of this country which is open to the light radiating from
the Gospel, it will continue to develop in full respect for the ethical principles
grounded in the transcendent dignity of the person. Memory of the past and hope
for the future meet in the present that is not a juncture without history and without
promise, but a moment in time which challenges us to gather wisdom and put it to good
use in building the future. In every nation, those in positions of responsibility
are called to face the future, as the Brazilian thinker Alceu Amoroso Lima once said,
“with the calm gaze of one who knows how to see the truth”. I would like to share
with you three aspects of this calm, serene and wise “gaze”: first, the distinctiveness
of your cultural tradition; second, joint responsibility for building the future;
and third, constructive dialogue in facing the present moment.
1. It is right
first, to esteem the dynamic and distinctive character of Brazilian culture, with
its extraordinary ability to integrate a variety of elements. The common “feeling”
of a people, the foundations of its thought and creativity, the basic principles of
its life, the criteria with which it assesses priorities and ways of acting, all rest,
are founded and develop according to an integral vision of the human person. This
vision of man and of life so typical of the Brazilian people has also been nourished
by the Gospel, by faith in Jesus Christ, in the love of God and brotherhood with our
neighbour. The richness of this nourishment can render fruitful a cultural process
that is true to Brazilian identity and a constructive process that can build a better
future for all. A process that promotes an integral humanism and the culture of
encounter and relationship: this is the Christian way of promoting the common good,
the joy of living. Here, faith and reason unite, the religious dimension and the various
aspects of human culture – art, science, labour, literature… Christianity combines
transcendence and incarnation; for its capacity to always revitalize thought and life,
in the face of the threat of dissatisfaction and disillusionment which can creep into
hearts and spread in the streets. 2. A second element which I would like to mention
is responsibility for society. This calls for a certain kind of cultural, and hence
political, paradigm. We are the ones responsible for training new generations, to
help them to be knowledgeable in economic and political affairs, and solidly grounded
in ethical values. The future demands the duty to rehabilitate politics, to rehabilitate
politics, which is one of the highest forms of charity. The future demands a humanistic
vision of the economy and a politics capable of ensuring greater and more effective
participation on the part of all, eliminating forms of elitism and eradicating poverty.
This is the road that we are called to travel: to see that basic needs are met and
that human dignity, brotherhood and solidarity are guaranteed on every level. In the
days of prophet Amos, God’s frequent warning was already being heard: “They sell the
righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals – they … trample down the
head of the poor into the dust of the earth and push the afflicted out of the way”
(Am 2:6-7). The outcry, the call for justice, continues to be heard even today. senza
vedere risultati, ma mantenendo viva la speranza, con quella costanza e coraggio che
nascono dall'accettazione della propria vocazione di guida e leadership”. Anyone
exercising a role of leadership needs to have practical goals and to seek specific
means to attain them. At the same time, there is always the risk of disappointment,
resentment and indifference, if our plans and goals do not materialize. The dynamic
virtue of hope inspires us to keep pressing on, to employ all our energies and abilities
on behalf of those for whom we work, accepting results, making it possible to strike
out on new paths, being generous even without apparent results, yet keeping hope alive
with the constancy and courage that are born from the acceptance of one’s vocation
as a guide and as a leader. It is a characteristic of leadership to make the most
just decision after having considered all the options from the standpoint of personal
responsibility and concern for the common good. This is the way to go to the heart
of the evils of a society and to overcome them, also with the boldness of courageous
and free actions. It is our responsibility, with all its limitations, to understand
all of reality, observing, pondering, evaluating, in order to make decisions in the
present but with an eye to the future, reflecting on the consequences of our decisions.
To act responsibly is to see one’s own actions in the light of other people’s rights
and God’s judgement. To preserve this ethical sense appears today as an unprecedented
historic challenge. We must search for it, we must insert it into society itself.
Beyond scientific and technical competence, the present situation also demands a sense
of moral obligation expressed in a social and deeply fraternal exercise of responsibility. 3.
To fill out this reflection, in addition to an integral humanism which respects cultural
distinctiveness and fraternal responsibility, I consider essential for facing the
present moment: constructive dialogue. Between selfish indifference and violent protest
there is always another possible option: that of dialogue. Dialogue between generations,
dialogue with the people, because we are all people, the capacity to give and receive,
while remaining open to the truth. A country grows when constructive dialogue occurs
between its many rich cultural components: popular culture, university culture, youth
culture, art, technology, economic culture, family culture and media culture, when
they are in dialogue with each other. It is impossible to imagine a future for society
without a significant contribution of moral energies within a democratic order which
will always be tempted to remain caught up in the interplay of vested interests. A
basic contribution in this regard is made by the great religious traditions, which
play a fruitful role as a leaven of society and a life-giving force for democracy.
Peaceful coexistence between different religions is favoured by the laicity of the
state, which, without appropriating any one confessional stance, respects and esteems
the presence of the religious dimension in society, while fostering its more concrete
expressions. When leaders in various fields ask me for advice, my response is always
the same: dialogue, dialogue, dialogue. It is the only way for individuals, families
and societies to grow, the only way for the life of peoples to progress, along with
the culture of encounter, a culture in which all have something good to give and all
can receive something good in return. Others always have something to give me, if
we know how to approach them in a spirit of openness and without prejudice. I call
this attitude of openness and availability without prejudice, social humility, and
it is this that favours dialogue. Only in this way can understanding grow between
cultures and religions, mutual esteem without needless preconceptions, respectful
of the rights of everyone. Today, either we stand together with the culture of dialogue
and encounter, or we all loose, we all loose; from here we can take the right road
that makes the journey fruitful and secure.
Your Excellencies, Ladies and
Gentlemen, I thank you for your attention. Please accept these words as an expression
of my concern as Pastor of the Church and of my respect and affection for the Brazilian
people. Fraternal relations between people, and cooperation in building a more just
society – these are not some vague fantasy, but the fruit of a concerted effort on
the part of all, in service of the common good. I encourage you in your commitment
to the common good, a commitment which demands of everyone wisdom, prudence and generosity.
I entrust you to our Heavenly Father, asking him, through the intercession of Our
Lady of Aparecida, to pour out his gifts on each of you, on your families and on your
communities and workplaces. And I ask God to bless you with all of my heart. Thank
you very much.