The Pope said it on several occasions during this morning's Audience in a sunny St. Peter's Square, for example to the French and English-speaking pilgrims, and today also in Croatian. “The fraternity that the dead and risen Christ gave us frees us from the negative logic of selfishness, divisions and arrogance.
In his catechesis, centered on the theme ‘Easter spirituality animates fraternity’, Leo XIV stressed that “fraternity is undoubtedly one of the great challenges for contemporary humanity”, but not “a beautiful impossible dream», or «a desire of an illusory few”. Fraternity is based on the commandment of Jesus, “who loved us and gave himself for us, so that we can love one another and give our lives for others».
“Omnes fratres”, all brothers and sisters
As was to be expected, Pope Leo mentioned in the Audience to St. Francis of Assisi, who addressed everyone as “brother”, “omnes fratres’, all brothers and sisters. Something that was taken up by Pope Francis, the Pontiff recalled, after 800 years, in the encyclical ‘Fratelli tutti’.
Thus Leo XIV quoted him: “This demonstrates the need, today more urgent than ever, to reconsider the greeting with which St. Francis of Assisi addressed everyone, regardless of their geographical, cultural, religious or doctrinal origin: omnes fratres was the inclusive way with which he Francisco put all human beings on the same level, precisely because he recognized them in the common destiny of dignity, dialogue, acceptance and salvation”.
Essential feature of Christianity
This “tutti”, the Successor of Peter pointed out, expresses “an essential feature of Christianity, which from the beginning was the proclamation of the Good News destined to the salvation of all, never in an exclusive or private way». Furthermore, the Pope pointed out that fraternity is profoundly human, born of the ability to relate to one another. Without relationships we cannot survive, grow, learn. And he described enmity as “a poison”.
“If we close in on ourselves, we run the risk of becoming ill with loneliness and even with a narcissism that cares only for others out of self-interest. The other is reduced, then, to someone to take from, without us ever being truly ready to give, to give ourselves,” he said.
He went on to note that “we often think that the role of brother or sister refers to kinship, to the fact of being blood relatives, of belonging to the same family. In reality, we know well that disagreements, fractures and sometimes hatred can also devastate relationships between relatives, not only between strangers”.
“Jesus loved us to the end.”
Only in the light of the Resurrection of Jesus can we understand fraternity. As the Gospel says, “Jesus loved us to the end,” he stressed. “And the disciples become fully brothers, after so long a time of living together, not only when they experience the pain of Jesus” death, but, above all, when they recognize him as the Risen One, receive the gift of the Spirit and become witnesses.“ ‘The Risen One showed us the way to walk together with Him, to feel, to be ’fratelli tutti” (brothers all).".
“Useless massacre of World War I: let us guard the peace”.”
In his greeting to the Poles, the Pope recalled that “yesterday we commemorated the end of the useless massacre of World War I, after which for many peoples, including yours, the dawn of independence came. We thank God for the gift of peace. Of which, as Saint Augustine affirmed, there is absolutely nothing better. Let us guard it with our hearts rooted in the Gospel, in the spirit of brotherhood and love of country.
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