Editorial – ?Encounter and dialogue

A White House welcome by President Barack
Obama, a meeting with bishops in the Cathedral of Washington, DC, the canonization of missionary Junípero Serra in the National
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: and so began the highly anticipated visit
to the United States of Pope Francis, whom Obama had already greeted when his
flight had arrived from Cuba. In the “days of encounter and dialogue” during
which the Pontiff — introducing himself as the son of immigrants and therefore
as a brother in a country that owes much to immigration — looks forward to
listening to and sharing the hopes and dreams of the people of the United
States.

In
building a society that rejects “every form of discrimination” — Bergoglio
began, standing in front of the White House — us Catholics, “precisely as good
citizens”, must preserve respect for religious liberty, which is one of their
society’s most precious treasures. He then once again expressed his concern
over climate change, an inescapable issue of social justice, and then, with
regard to international relations, he favourably touched upon the recent steps
toward reconciliation, justice and liberty, toward reestablishing interrupted
relationships and opening new doors to dialogue.

In
the cathedral, began his speech to the Bishops with an unexpected greeting to
the Jewish community, whose High Holidays had just begun. The discourse was a
long, and at times moving, meditation on Christian life: “To testify to the
immensity of God’s love is the heart of the mission entrusted to the Successor
of Peter”, who accompanies and supports each one of his brother bishops,
placing his hand on theirs, “a hand wrinkled with age, but by God’s grace still
able to support and encourage”. The Pope spoke to them as “the Bishop of Rome,
called by God in old age, and from a land which is also American, to watch over
the unity of the universal Church”.

He
spoke not as a “stranger” in America, but as “a brother among brothers”. Even
faced with many challenges and often fierce opposition, “we are promoters of
the culture of encounter”, Francis said. “Dialogue is our method, not as a
shrewd strategy but out of fidelity to the One who never wearies of visiting
the marketplace” of mankind. And in a world that is torn and broken, the
episcopal mission — “which we carry out in communion, collegially”, the Pontiff
emphasized — “is first and foremost to solidify unity”, so as to “offer to the
United States of America the humble yet powerful leaven of communion”.

In
perfect continuity with the lengthy discourse to the U.S. Bishops, the Pontiff
thereafter, in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, proclaimed
Junípero Serra a saint. The Spanish Franciscan, a great missionary of
18th-century America, was presented by Bergoglio as a witness to the joy of the
Gospel, the authentic embodiment of a Church that goes forth in order to share
“the reconciling tenderness of God”. Indeed, Pope Francis said, only in mission
is it possible to live out the words of St Paul, who tells us to rejoice in the
Lord always. Only thus can one experience a fulfilling, meaningful and joyful
life.

G.M.V.