Vatican City, Apr 26, 2017 / 02:15 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Early Wednesday morning Pope Francis addressed the TED 2017 conference, telling participants that to have a hopeful outlook for the future, we must plant seeds of humility, solidarity and tenderness today.
Referencing his 80 years of life, the Pope opened his talk saying that “quite a few years of life have strengthened my conviction that each and everyone’s existence is deeply tied to that of others: life is not time merely passing by, life is about interactions.”
“We all need each other, none of us is an island, an autonomous and independent ‘I,’ separated from the other,” he said.
“We can only build the future by standing together, including everyone,” the Pope continued, adding that that while we might not think about it often, “everything is connected, and we need to restore our connections to a healthy state.”
“Even the harsh judgment I hold in my heart against my brother or my sister, the open wound that was never cured, the offense that was never forgiven, the rancor that is only going to hurt me, are all instances of a fight that I carry within me.”
This “flare” embedded deep within our hearts “needs to be extinguished before it goes up in flames, leaving only ashes behind.”
Pope Francis gave his TED Talk April 26 at 3:30a.m. local time in Rome for TED 2017, which is taking place April 24-28 in Vancouver, Canada.
<div style=”max-width:640″><div style=”position:relative;height:0;padding-bottom:56.25%”><iframe src=”https://embed.ted.com/talks/pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone” width=”640″ height=”360″ style=”position:absolute;left:0;top:0;width:100%;height:100%” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no” allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>
TED is an international media organization that posts brief talks online that are for free distribution and run under the slogan “ideas worth spreading.” The organization was founded in February 1984 as a conference, which has been held annually since 1990.
The talks are typically run between 10-20 minutes, and are given by influential speakers who are experts in various fields such as business, science and technology, among others. Subtitles are available in more than 100 languages.
Pope Francis is the first pontiff to give a TED Talk, however, just days before announcing his resignation in 2013 Benedict XVI was given the “Charter of Compassion” by the organization’s European director, Bruno Giussani.
This year’s TED conference holds the theme “The Future You,” and is dedicated to addressing the pressing questions of our time.
In his talk, which lasted 18 minutes and was filmed inside Vatican City, Pope Francis offered a response to today’s challenges, focusing on how to maintain an attitude of hope through solidarity with one another.
He noted that for many people a happy future is something that seems distant and at times impossible to achieve.
However, while these concerns must be taken seriously, they are not “invincible,” he said, explaining that happiness can be discovered when looking to the harmony that exists between the whole and each individual part.
Francis then moved to his second point, saying it would be ideal if scientific and technological growth were coupled with greater equality and social inclusion.
“How wonderful would it be if solidarity, this beautiful and, at times, inconvenient word, were not simply reduced to social work, and became, instead, the default attitude in political, economic and scientific choices, as well as in the relationships among individuals, peoples and countries,” he said.
Only a thorough education in solidarity can overcome the “culture of waste” prevalent in today’s society, turning people’s attention not so much toward goods and food, but toward people.
“Solidarity is a term that many wish to erase from the dictionary,” he said, but noted that solidarity “is not an automatic mechanism.”
“It cannot be programmed or controlled. It is a free response born from the heart of each and everyone,” he said, explaining that to truly do good to another person, courage, memory and creativity are needed.
“I know that TED gathers many creative minds,” the Pope observed, but stressed that when it comes to developing projects and ideas, “good intentions and conventional formulas, so often used to appease our conscience, are not enough.”
Rather, a concrete and “ingenious” attitude is needed, he said. “Let us help each other, all together, to remember that the other is not a statistic or a number. The other has a face. The ‘you’ is always a real presence, a person to take care of.”
Pope Francis then pointed to the parable of the Good Samaritan, explaining, as he often does, that while the two powerful men of the day ignored the man on the side of the road, it was the Samaritan, a “despised ethnicity” at the time, who had compassion and paid for the man’s healing out of his own pocket.
The story of the Good Samaritan can easily sum up the state of humanity today, Francis said, explaining that many people’s paths are “riddled with suffering,” as if everything centered around money and things, rather than people.
“And often there is this habit, by people who call themselves ‘respectable,’ of not taking care of the others, thus leaving behind thousands of human beings, or entire populations, on the side of the road.”
Pointing to Mother Teresa, whom he canonized in September 2016, Francis said she is an example of the people who are “creating a new world” based on care for others.
“We have so much to do, and we must do it together. But how can we do that with all the evil we breathe every day?” he asked.
While not everyone can achieve the scale of Mother Teresa or the Good Samaritan, the Pope stressed that we are all precious and irreplaceable in the eyes of God, and that amid today’s conflicts, each of us “can become a bright candle, a reminder that light will overcome darkness, and never the other way around.”
“To Christians, the future does have a name, and its name is hope,” he said, explaining that hope doesn’t mean being “optimistically naïve,” ignoring suffering or dwelling on the past, but is a virtue that is able “to see a tomorrow.”
“Hope is the door that opens onto the future,” he said, noting that it is like the hidden yeast that makes bread grow, and as such “can do so much, because a tiny flicker of light that feeds on hope is enough to shatter the shield of darkness.”
“A single individual is enough for hope to exist,” telling conference participants: “that individual can be you.”
“And then there will be another ‘you,’ and another ‘you,’ and it turns into an ‘us,’” he said, explaining that hope begins with a “you,” and when an “us” develops, “there begins a revolution.”
The Pope then repeated his frequent call for a “revolution of tenderness,” which is “the love that comes close and becomes real.”
“Tenderness means to use our hands and our heart to comfort the other, to take care of those in need,” he said, noting that God himself descended to our level, which is the same thing the Good Samaritan did.
To have tenderness, he said, “the path of choice for the strongest, most courageous men and women. Tenderness is not weakness; it is fortitude. It is the path of solidarity, the path of humility.”
Pointing to a common phrase in Argentina, Francis said “power is like drinking gin on an empty stomach. You feel dizzy, you get drunk, you lose your balance and you will end up hurting yourself and those around you if you don’t connect your power with humility and tenderness.”
Pope Francis closed his speech saying the future of humanity isn’t just in the hands of politicians or great leaders or big companies, but is primarily in the hands “of those people who recognize the other as a ‘you’ and themselves as part of an ‘us.’”
“We all need each other, he said. “So, please, think of me as well with tenderness, so that I can fulfill the task I have been given for the good of the other, of each and every one, of all of you, of all of us.”
[…]
We can only pray that our next Pope is a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.
Archbishop Chaput made this comment:
“As a brother in the faith, and a successor of Peter, he deserves our ongoing prayers for his eternal life in the presence of the God he loved.
Having said that, an interregnum between papacies is a time for candor. The lack of it, given today’s challenges, is too expensive. In many ways, whatever its strengths, the Francis pontificate was inadequate to the real issues facing the Church. He had no direct involvement in the Second Vatican Council and seemed to resent the legacy of his immediate predecessors who did; men who worked and suffered to incarnate the council’s teachings faithfully into Catholic life. His personality tended toward the temperamental and autocratic. He resisted even loyal criticism.”
A pontificate “marked by mercy?” What mercy was ever extended towards the victims of the many sins he trivialized.
Let us pray he has received the real mercy in his final judgment to which his worldly pandering caused him to misunderstand, a mercy we all need.
Cardinal Dolan, on Fox & Friends, responded to a request for what he’d say to the American people on the death of Pope Francis:
“….So we believe he’s still alive, ok? He’s alive in, through, and with Jesus Christ, and, and so it, it, it just sorta’ strengthens our faith in the resurrection. It strengthens our faith in the Passover, as our Jewish brothers and sisters will say, that he’s only passing over from this life to the fullness of life. Now we don’t take that for granted. He was one eloquent teacher of mercy—the mercy of God. So he’s the first one that says, ‘You make sure that the Lord’s mercy extends to me at the moment of my death.’ And we do that. We do that. But we also pray with gratitude, and we also pray with utter confidence–uh–that he’s–uh–that–uh–that the Lord gives his mercy and he’s enjoying eternal reward which he so richly deserves.”
So there is one judgment.
Fr. Gerald Murray also appeared on Fox News today. He calmly pointed to the two paths the Church may take in choosing a new pope.
This guy showed no mercy to faithful Catholics; threw Chinese Catholics under the bus driven by their persecutors; never cared to understand victims of clergy sex abuse … Perhaps it is better to hold one’s tongue on such a day as this, but to present, as the CNA staff, a fairy tale tribute requires response. May he rest in peace.
Absolutely right, jpf!
This papacy is responsible for the coining of the term, “to Rupnik.”
As in, “For the past twelve years, Bergoglio has thoroughly Rupniked the Catholic Church by promoting evildoers within the hierarchy and by covering up for the evil deeds they have done.”
My current bishop is in the tradition of St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
He reaches retirement age this year. This morning when I heard of Francis’
death, I could not help feel relief that he would not be appointing my next
bishop.
Lucky you!!!
Francy, I agree. And let’s have none of the “Santo Subito” mania with reference to this Pope.
The “Mercy and Reform” narrative for the Pontiff Francis is a worn out meme, the epilogue of a 12-yr-long PR campaign, signifying…nothing.
“Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.”
“Mercy and reform”? Ruthless suppression of enemies real and imagined, a gossip hound who took gossip as truth driving his acts of suppression, slapped at adoring women, yelled at them, surrounded himself with perverts whom he protected in exchange for as much protection as he could afford, opened wide doors shut by two prior Popes, sewing confusion and chaos, and published an encylical on prayer telling contemplative orders to get a REAL job, and launched an assault on those orders…a Machiavellian Peronist who spouted power to the people while while ruling as a dictator, a reign of fear in the Vatican, and terror of orthodox bishops.
dropped text…”protected them in exchange for loyalty with as much protection as he could afford”
The dialogue here on the “Pope of the people” shows a vitriol and disparagement of the deceased “Bergoglio,” the name frequently used by those who should never “throw the first stone”. The innuendo reveals much fervor, but few details.
Seems like the court of opinion will rage on with the use of terms that Pope Francis often used. Love, not hate, compassion, not repulsion, build bridges, not walls, plea to remember the poor, being a homosexual is not a sin. I have a Gay friend. Am I supposed to isolate him and reject him?
We must love our neighbor. Inclusion, not isolation, which in some cases causes violence. The Church opposes the Gay lifestyle. I believe that Francis thought the act was sinful. Will the upcoming conclave seek to “solve” the issue?
Harken to the signs of support when many thousands prayed in the courtyard of the Vatican, and condolences from millions around the world on April 21st. The real evidence of support will come from the Conclave and the entire communion of clerics.
Pray for Pope Francis.
The use of the name “Bergoglio” is not, in itself, an insult or attack. Anyone familiar with past popes and commentary knows this.
“I have a Gay friend. Am I supposed to isolate him and reject him?”
Seriously?
First name Carl. There must be more in your turse retort than name-calling. It’s not the last name that causes concern, it’s the context that surrounds it.
Thank you for your comment.
Amen to that sentiment, let’s pray for popes francis & leo.
Last letter D morgan, that line is from Poseidon 2006 Maggie Jacinda Barrett James to Dylan Josh Lucas Johns. Near the start of the film before the wave hit them good and nice.
Everywhere in society worldwide people go by last names. The familiar then comes in when a basis for it is established. Such has been my experience anyway from early schooling to now. I have found that many do not observe it so as to give themselves leeways. On the other hand other people insist on last name so as to have heavy formalities all the time.
Although it might be that in some areas first names have become the norm and the expectation. Perhaps the US is one such place.
If I ever meet the Pope I won’t say “Hi there Prevost”. I’d say “It’s good to meet the Holy Father”; or something such.
I have a homosexualist acquaintance, I call him by his first name.
Sometimes getting serious with my father I could say, “Look here, Mr. Galy …”. But I didn’t start it he did.
With some others remaining on last names is actually how we preserve the familiar in its most healthful setting.
What can be noticed is that people like homosexualists who have put themselves out for roasting then get over-sensitive over everything. Eventually as you have seen there in the US, they want to mount everything into laws suited to them that take total precedence where they alone can call the shots as homosexualists which nobody else may define for them. At that point what material difference does it make re first name / last name. Well, it could matter to homosexualists, I suppose, whether we had a choice in it or not.
You know Mr Morgan, Pope Francis didn’t come up on his own with the concept of homosexual behavior being disordered. It’s clearly explained in our Catechism.
Those attractions are only sinful when acted upon. We each have some kind of disorder and inclination to sin because we all share the same broken human nature.
MorganD, we read: “Will the upcoming conclave seek to “solve” the issue?”
“Issue”? What issue?
Half century ago the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith already offered clarification: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19751229_persona-humana_en.html
And, then, in 1986 Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect for the Congregation, referred to this clarification in his “Letter to Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons. In which, he recalled, for example: “…the [1975] Congregation took note of the distinction commonly drawn between the homosexual condition or tendency and individual actions. These were described as deprived of the essential and indispensable finality, as being ‘intrinsically disordered’, and able in no case to be approved of 9cf. no. 8, Section 4).” https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html
Perhaps the real “issue” to be solved is today’s amnesiac mindset that disregards the longstanding distinction you now rightfully request, replacing it with, what, der Synodal Weg, Fr. Martin/Sister Jeannine Gramick photo-ops, parts of the metastasized Synod on Synodality, and then a follow-up Study Group #9 on so-called “hot button issues”—this Group charged with proposing “[t]heological criteria [!] and synodal methodologies [! say what?] for shared discernment of controversial [meaning perpetually controverted?] doctrinal [!], pastoral [!], and ethical issues [!].”
A quite broad scavenger hunt, originally scheduled to report in June 2025 and to be humbly tendered to the ruminations of Cardinal Grech’s congregational (?) “2028 Ecclesial Assembly.”
Name one moment in time anyone you declare to be an “enemy” of Francis who ever expressed Christian values in opposition to the concepts of compassion for all people, whatever their affliction, belief system, of inclinations for sin.
Why are you so weirdly capitalizing the G in “gay?”
Would you also write, “I have an Adulterous friend?”
“I have a Thief friend?”
“I have an Oppressive of the Poor friend?”
“I have a Murderous friend?”
So why this one?
He’s trying to justify the lifestyle to himself. He has often posted comments indirectly supporting homosexuality. Maybe it’s projection or wishful thinking.
Yes, I’m wondering the same thing??!!…good observation.
Suppose, morganD, if I had a Razzle-Dazzle friend, should I pass laws legalizing razzle-dazzle to prove I love him outside there and “genuinely in my heart” too besides. That would be kind of an over-burden of something I would say was not Christian love or anything humane even when I could not quite identify the something right away.
I have a homosexual acquaintance. Why should that part of it be defining anything or overtake what really counts. The only “reason” would be so that it eludes its necessarily near and already long past due vanishing point; and that “reason” is not Christian either. The emphasis on such the past 12 years was diabolical.
I tip my hat to these here writers at CWR with their sharp pencils. Easter Greetings.
Thank you for your truthful insights & your compassion. Before I read your letter/response I was convinced that 99.9% of the readership if this periodical are all right wing haters. You have proven me wrong. Peace & blessings; let us pray for both pope francis & pope leo?!
Thank you for your loving, merciful, and caring remark. It brings a smile to my face.
We are Called not to order ourselves toward our sinful inclinations and desires but to overcome our disordered inclinations and desires, by ordering ourselves to authentic Salvational Love that serves only for that which is True, Beautiful and Good and becoming transformed through accepting God’s Grace and Mercy. For if it were True that it is Loving and Merciful that we or a Loved one, remain in our sin, and not desire to overcome our disordered inclinations toward sin , we would have no need for our Savior, Jesus The Christ.
The desire to engage an a demeaning act of sin of any nature, does not change the nature of the demeaning sinful act.
Although it is True, at the hour of our death, only God can judge the state of our souls, and who is worthy of His Kingdom , our Call to Holiness is a Call to be Temples of The Holy Ghost and discriminate justly between behavior that affirms the inherent Dignity of a beloved son or daughter and is thus an act of Love, and behavior that demeans the inherent Dignity of a beloved son or daughter and is thus devoid of Love .
This article presents a really clear account of Pope Francis’ life and contributions! So informative and eye – opening.
I suppose I should be amazed or shocked by the mean spirited uncharitable un christian uncatholic tone taken by those that responded to this article online. But I sadly am not! This forum is at heart a narrow minded right wing organization of communication that only wishes to aggrandize an ultra conservative set of viewpoints.JP2 is always praised; Francis is always disparaged & made out to be “the antichrist”! I suppose it’s obvious where this publications sympathies lie when so many of your readers refer to Pope Francis as “Bergoglio”! I posted a reply to Christopher Altieri’s article “pope francis’s all out battle against clerical abuse has been a failure” & have grave doubts that it will e published (same with this missive). I suppose I expected too much from right wing RC partisans. I’m a left wing RC partisan who tries to not judge but from now on in I’ll stick to the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) & America for sane balanced nuanced intelligent insights. As to your reader’s brutal judgements on Pope Francis, clearly kindness is at a discount among your readership.
“… who tries to not judge …”
Yes. It’s obvious. Your self-control is commendable. Laudable. Remarkable. Please, continue in your walk of kindness and charity.
It is disrespectful to both The Blessed Trinity and The Papacy to refer to a man as Pope, who could not possibly be validly elected to the Papacy, having denied sexual immorality to be sin, prior to his election, without manifesting any sign that he repented or even desires to repent, and thus setting himself above The Word Of Perfect Divine Eternal Love Incarnate, Our Savior, Jesus The Christ, and Divine Law.