Speaking on an Italian Franciscan podcast, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin discusses the “worrying” global scenario, but emphasizes that there are still “signs of hope," particularly in the Christian faith and its emphasis on fraternity.
Vatican News Despite today’s highly fraught geopolitical context, a sign of hope can be found in the individuals who continue to “that a new world is possible, a new society is possible, a new way of living and relating to one another is possible.” That was the reflection offered by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Holy See Secretary of State, in an Italian-language interview with Fr. Giulio Cesareo, director of the Communication Office of the Sacred Convent of Assisi. The interview, published on Wednesday, was recorded on March 15, the date when the Cardinal presided over Mass in Assisi to mark the extraordinary display of the relics of St. Francis for the 800th anniversary of his death. Signs of hope In the interview, the Cardinal speaks of a “worrying” geopolitical situation. “We are all truly worried about what is happening," he says, adding that, if there is hope to be found, it rests in those “who do not give up in the face of this situation” but rather “say that a new world is possible, a new society is possible, a new way of living and relating to one another is possible.” The role of faith In this regard, Cardinal Parolin says, “a great reason for hope” comes from the Christian faith, which “offers concrete guidance," especially on the theme of fraternity. In a divided world, the Cardinal says, “the message that comes to us today from St. Francis, who echoes Jesus' message, is to love everyone, even our enemies. It is only from this love that we can draw hope: a love that is all things to all people and that seeks to build a reality of peace.” A cry that becomes political action The cardinal then emphasizes that the rich and powerful should not remain deaf to the “cry of protest” from those who are being left behind. It is important, he says, that this cry be transformed into "political action." Unfortunately, Cardinal Parolin notes, world leaders “are not very sensitive or attentive to the voice rising from the grassroots.” It is in this context, he suggests, that the Gospel message can become a reason for hope, by preventing us from becoming accustomed to this exploitative “way of living and understanding personal relationships." St. Francis’ message of hope Earlier in the interview, the Cardinal had also said that the figure of St. Francis is particularly important today in a period where “people, rather than ideas," have the capacity to inspire. This, Cardinal Parolin said, explains the great flow of pilgrims to Assisi for the display of the saint’s relics: “people feel the need to have models and examples before them in their daily lives," and for many of them, St. Francis represents a "message of hope" in continuity with the recently concluded Jubilee Year.