Pope Leo XIV: We Cannot Survive Without Fraternity

At his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Leo reflected more profoundly on the death and Resurrection of Jesus—what it means ‘to live this paschal spirituality...and therefore fill our lives with hope and encourage us to perform acts of kindness.

Additionally, it highlights the need for this to develop brotherhood, which is one of the greatest problems that modern man is likely to face; it is so explicitly stated by Pope Francis in his address. Brotherhood can be achieved; it is not an unattainable ideal.

The Human Foundation of Fraternity

The element of human fraternity is drawn from something that can be referred to as "the deeply human." As people, we have the means through which to form bonds of relationship or know one another. The Holy Father said that without being able to establish that bond, "no one could survive, develop or grow." The human spirit is "most completed" when he has the opportunity to co-exist with and be part of the community.

On the flipside, we may also become isolated from others and develop a narcissistic personality when we withdraw into ourselves. This is because our attention will be purely self-centered. Pope Leo said it best when he stated, “The other becomes someone whom I can take from, but never willing to give back to or offer my entire self to.”

Fraternity in a World of Conflict

The concept of fraternity should be neither ignored nor supported; the values of fraternity in the face of modern-day wars, nation-to-nation standing turmoil, and distrust between people appear to carry a message contrary to our basic principle of fraternity. As he stated, "fraternity, then, is less than the flower of a good idea; it is not a figment of our imagination."

However, he asserted that in order to discover the remedy for the afflictions that threaten to undermine fraternity, we must seek refuge in the source of our strength—namely, God.

All siblings.

The Meaning of Brotherhood

The word fraternity comes from an old word that means "to support another person or thing." A good example of this is the role of siblings and, more generally, family relationships. Everyone knows that division and discord can spoil a relationship—whether it is through family or among people who are not related.

Thus, because of this growing need among people today, there's also an increased urgency for society to consider the manner in which St. Francis of Assisi would welcome others into his home, regardless of who they were. One option might be "Omnes fratres," or "all brothers" — a way to say that we are all equal and have the same inherent dignity as other human beings.

Fratelli Tutti and the Call to Universal Brotherhood

Pope Francis later reiterated this example with his encyclical letter Fratelli tutti, where the word “tutti” signifies “a basic principle of Christianity.” Pope Leo noted that this brotherhood is derived from Jesus' command: “It is because of Him who loved us and gave Himself up for us that we can love one another and give our lives for others.”

Exhibit love in the manner that Jesus loves us.

The Resurrection and the Birth of True Fraternity

John's Gospel says that Jesus loved all of us until His last breath. The pain He experienced on His way to the Cross was the worst pain imaginable and He would ultimately die for us, but He knew what was coming. Just 3 days later though, He would come back to life and a new chapter in the history of mankind had begun. It was with the Resurrection that the disciples became full brothers and sisters to each other because they recognized Jesus as the Risen One, received the gift of the Spirit, and became witnesses to Him.

An Invitation to Compassion and Unity

To sum up, Pope Leo invited everyone to help others, particularly during hard times and troubles when we should assist each other. Brothers and sisters should show compassion towards one another and, in attempting to live together as one family, should "not turn their backs on those who need help." We should also unite as brothers and sisters, and share in both our tears and joy, as we strive to achieve unity, trust, and dependability on one another.

We are called to love each other in the same way Christ loved us. According to the Holy Father, "the fraternity which Christ has given us...delivers us from the catastrophic thinking of selfishness, division, and pride...and it brings us back to our original vocation as an act of a renewed love and hope." The resurrection is the light on the road to Jesus that comes from living together as "all brothers and sisters."