Rafael Domingo Osle, Full Professor at the University of Navarra and researcher at Emory University.
Francis, the pope of great truths
The Pope reminded us that God himself wanted to live in the warmth of the family of Mary and Joseph, perhaps because God himself, in his Trinitarian essence, is also family.
Until now, I had always thought that, just as John Paul II was the pope of the young and Benedict XVI the pope of the intellectuals, Francis was going to be the pope of the poor. After this great trip to the United States, however, it seems to me that Francis will go down in history as the pope of the great truths.
Great truths are those truths that are easily recognized by people of all cultures, religions and races, because they shine by themselves; they are those truths that do not hurt, that do not offend anyone no matter how much they challenge; those truths that are demanding but kind, engaging, that guide the life of peoples and individuals.
These great truths are there, we know them almost intuitively, they are evident, but we often turn away from them in search of other spurious human interests, perhaps more profitable at first sight.
The truths, the great truths, when they are manipulated or manipulated, do not shine: they are 'fundamentalized'. Therefore, they impoverish, divide and even destroy. For these great truths to really enlighten society, they must be proposed by authentic people, whose only goal is to seek and embrace the truth itself. Francis is one of them.
An expert in humanity and a lover of authenticity, Pope Francis' rectitude of intention deserves trust and respect. For this reason, people are able to recognize the truth in his words, gestures and actions. Francis does not deceive. He can be trusted.
Among the great truths, the Pope told politicians that they must legislate for people created in the image and likeness of God; he reminded nations that the death penalty does not work, that we must put an end to drug trafficking and wars, that poverty can be eradicated if we make a serious effort, that we must support immigrants. The Pope reminded us that the earth belongs to all of us, and that we all have the duty to take care of it as our home.
Today, in the last hours of his unforgettable visit, the pope focused on the great truths about the family. Man was not created to be alone; he is a social being by nature. The Pope reminded us that God himself wanted to live in the warmth of the family of Mary and Joseph, perhaps because God himself, in his Trinitarian essence, is also a family. God, being unique, is not alone either.
Therefore, the need to protect the family, to make family, to celebrate the love of the family, is at the basis of human behavior. Only from the family, the true pillar of humanity, will we be able to recompose our tired world. A great program of life.