Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 1, 2025 / 16:35 pm (CNA).
On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the papal encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), issued a clear exhortation to the faithful, saying: “I beg you to see Christ in every person, even those whose politics you oppose.”
Pope Francis’ 2020 encyclical letter on fraternity and social friendship was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi’s call for “love that transcends the barriers of geography and distance.” On the anniversary of the letter, as terrifying acts of violence continue to occur in the U.S., Broglio encouraged Americans to reflect on the value of every human life.
Broglio’s pastoral invitation comes in the wake of “shocking acts of political violence” across the nation, stemming from “hostility and division,” Broglio wrote in a USCCB statement. “Places once regarded as safe harbors to grow and learn — our schools, universities, and churches — have become sites of heartbreaking tragedy and bloodshed.”
“Pope Francis outlined steps our world must take to rebuild a sense of communion in the wake of what he described as ‘shattered dreams,’” Broglio said. “As the encyclical prophetically points out, people are being manipulated ‘to serve as tools for domination, as meaningless tags that can be used to justify any action.’”
“We have seen the manifestation of this notion in the perverse idea that one can serve the common good by becoming an instrument of violence,” Broglio said. “This happens when we refuse to see the face of Christ in the other person and only see an enemy that must be dominated or destroyed.”
Pope Franics wrote: “The path to social unity always entails acknowledging the possibility that others have, at least in part, a legitimate point of view, something worthwhile to contribute, even if they were in error or acted badly.”
Therefore, building peace in our nation “requires us to place at the center of all political, social, and economic activity the human person from conception to natural death, who enjoys the highest dignity, and respect for the common good.”
To follow Pope Francis’ call, Broglio calls on each of us to “examine our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions and ask ourselves how we contribute to the polarization and animosity plaguing our nation.”
To “begin to heal the rifts between us,” Broglio called on people to perform corporal works of mercy including feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and visiting the sick and imprisoned. He also encouraged people to fast from social media and take time to pray for their enemies.
In his encyclical, Pope Francis said “authentic reconciliation does not flee from conflict but is achieved in conflict, resolving it through dialogue and open, honest, and patient negotiation.”
Broglio said: “Listen and talk with those you with whom you disagree — especially within your own family. Disagree, debate civilly, stand for your rights, but always remember in your heart that we are all children of God and deserve dignity and life.”
“On this fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Fratelli Tutti, let us pray ‘so that we may discover anew that all are important and all are necessary, different faces of the one humanity that God so loves. Amen.’”
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