Analysis: A Message to the Spirit, not the Body

07/26/2013 - 09h21

Pope's message to Brazil, from the Varginha community, was mainly one to the spirit and not the body, opposite, for example, to the liberation theology rhetoric, a movement within the church supposedly more dedicated to social issues.

The pope did not mention political or economic systems at any moment during his short speech. His central message focused on spiritual values, which is consistent, with excerpts from previous speeches given since his arrival in Rio

This is confirmed when the pope placed as priority not the real hunger of empty stomachs but "a deep hunger" which, he said, "only God can fulfill".

Even when mentioning the fundamental pillars of society he placed values, such as family, "total education", health, including spiritual health, as more relevant. He even included violence, a phenomenon that surely makes community life a hell, to which the pope said is "only won from a change in people's heart".

Solidarity was another value he emphasized, and with that the Pope resorted to an old and well-known popular phrase, that in case of needing to feed another mouth, one needed just to add more water to the beans. In less popular terms, he made a point that sharing does not make anyone poor, but rich.

What this mean is that the value of solidarity, embedded in Catholicism (and all religions), overcomes the need for material things. It is a traditional church message but it is very difficult to sell to the public in a consumerism and hedonism era such as ours.

For the rest, the pope said the obvious which all his predecessors in one way or another have said, making "an appeal to those with the most resources, public authorities and people of good will committed to social justice: do not get tire to work for a more just and caring world. People should not remain indifferent to the inequalities still existent in the world.

Since the encyclical "Rerum Novarum" by Pope Leo XIII, published in 1891, this is the church's speech, which did not prevent inequalities to continue happening, and worse, in recent years, that it would increase in rich countries which before were less unequal.

The pope would certainly say that the cause is the lack of a God who can satisfy the hunger for happiness.

Indirectly, Pope Francis approved President Dilma Rousseff proposal to collaborate in initiatives against poverty. The pope offered "collaboration to any initiative that might mean a true development for every man."

As a whole, a timeless message, as often is when coming from the church.

Translated by SIMONE PALMA

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