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Much of the coverage of Pope Francis’ expansive encyclical Fratelli Tutti, released Oct. 4, focused on its feel-good themes of unity, dialogue and peace. Who can argue against the notion that we are “brothers and sisters all?” But this document, the pope’s third encyclical and clearly a summary of his papacy so far, is no rote call for prayers and best wishes in the face of the pandemic. It is, foundationally, a pointed critique of nationalistic populism, of economic systems that exploit the poor and indeed, of democracy itself, as least as it seems to be evolving here in the 21st century.

While this may sound extreme to individualistic American ears, it is the countercultural gospel message that we must all listen to, especially when so many lives – of the poor, the unemployed, the sick – are literally on the line. The pope urges us to follow the example of the Good Samaritan, to become a neighbor to those who are despised and excluded, particularly migrants and refugees. He agrees that it is challenging, not just for politicians but for society. How can we discover the joy of a culture of encounter? Can we see the other as a gift instead of a threat? How can we love the local, our town, our country, without closing it off to other people?

The pope uses a historical event – the 1219 encounter between St. Francis of Assisi and Egypt’s Sultan Malik al-Kamil – as the foundation for an encyclical advocating “social friendship,” a transcendent love directed toward overcoming societal barriers that are the source of much human misery.

The historical record shows that that saint traveled to Egypt in the midst of the Fifth Crusade and, during a break in the fighting, went to the sultan’s camp.

He was received warmly.

Pope Francis starts with that incident because it exemplifies the saint’s model of “openness of heart, which knew no bounds and transcended differences, of origin, nationality, color or religion.” This is what we need if we are to clear away “dark clouds over a closed world.”

The encyclical in a nod to the familial bonds that connect all the world’s peoples, is marked by a sadness and even indignation at the scores of people who have died during the pandemic for want of better distribution of health care resources. In the introduction, Francis says the pandemic “unexpectedly erupted” as he was writing. “Once this health crisis passes, our worst response would be to plunge even more deeply into feverish consumerism and new forms of egotistic self-preservation,” Francis writes in the opening chapter.

“If only we might rediscover once for all that we need one another,” he continues. “God willing, after all this we will think no longer in terms of ‘them’ and ‘those,’ but only ‘us.’” Francis refers to a wide range of social and political issues throughout the document. Francis ends the encyclical with two prayers: one addressed to “the Creator,” which could be shared by those of various religions; and one entitled “an ecumenical Christian prayer.”

Father Paul Magnano is parish priest in the Skagit Valley Catholic Churches. His reflections on Fratelli Tutti will conclude next week.