Perspectief 2017-36

2017-36 JT Chapter 1: Roman Catholic responses 13 Reageer Family’s exile in Egypt, in order to be inspired by Mary and Joseph’s faith that God would not forsake them 37 . Earlier, in his 2014 letter to the Christians of the Middle East, he wrote that God himself “consoles us in all our affliction” and that “the birth of the Son of God in our human flesh is an indescribable mystery of consolation” 38 . Moreover, Francis expressed his hope that these sufferings would be united to Jesus’ suffering on the cross, so as to bring about many fruits for the Church. Importantly, he also emphasised the importance of bonding with people adhering to other religions, in order to prevent religious fundamentalism from developing. Lastly he encouraged and expressed his admiration for individuals and communities receiving refugees, who practice charity without discrimination, and called upon the international community to continue their diplomatic efforts to achieve peace, in order for the displaced to be able to return to their country. 39 In a world where the culture of comfort is widespread, a refugee becomes nothing more than an interruption of the usual, comfortable state of affairs, said Francis in a homily early on in his papacy. The voice of God is required for people to open their eyes and hearts to the other. In Genesis God asked Cain “Where is your brother?” and He repeats this question to mankind today in order to lead Man away from his inattentiveness towards the world and people around him. Refugees, Francis stated, “fail to find understanding, fail to find acceptance, fail to find solidarity”. When God asks “Where is your brother?” Man says “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 40 . Today, Man is confronted by the suffering of refugees but when asked whose responsibility it is to relieve their burdens, he says “It isn’t me; I don’t have anything to do with it; it must be someone else, but certainly not me”. This loss of a sense of responsibility towards other human beings is characteristic of the “culture of comfort”, which makes people live in “soap bubbles” and which has given rise to the “globalisation of indifference”. The result of this globalisation of indifference is that people have “forgotten how to weep”. They are no longer able to have compassion, that 37 Pope Francis (2014) ‘Occasione Diei Mundialis Migrantis et Itinerantis’. 38 2 Corinthians 1:4, NRSVCE. 39 Pope Francis (2014) ‘Ad Christifideles Orientis Propinqui’ AAS 107-1: 21-25. 40 Genesis 4:9, NRSVCE.