Ubuntu is a profound Nguni Bantu term that encapsulates a fundamental essence of African culture, translated as “I am because we are.” This concept emphasizes the interdependence of all people, highlighting that our individual well-being is intertwined with the well-being of others. In a philosophical sense, Ubuntu signifies a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity and eloquently underscores the intrinsic values of community, compassion, and mutual respect. In a world increasingly marked by individualism, violence, hate, and extreme secularism within the Church, Ubuntu becomes relevant, serving as a beacon, inspiring a longing for global solidarity, moving from aloneness to ‘we’ness. Pope Francis, a vocal advocate for synodality, revitalizes a ‘we’ Church that stimulates a ‘journeying together’; promotes one human community celebrating diversity; and suggests a Pilgrim Church that is always in movement, embracing global Catholic solidarity.
A ‘We’ Church: Navigating Beyond Comfort Zones
With each stroke of his pen in the ecclesiastical writings, Pope Francis, challenges Catholics to move beyond comfort zones. In a special way, Evangelii Gaudium urges outreach to the peripheries, Laaudato si’ emphasizes the urgent need for care for the Earth, Fratelli Tutti highlights the importance of universal fraternity, and synodality awakens and strengthens the ecclesial ‘we’, practicing communion at the service of the ‘common home’.
In his quest for a synodal Church, Pope Francis not only preaches, but also practices this ‘we’ philosophy, creating a harmonious resonance that reverberates throughout the ecclesiastical landscape. Once during his visit to the regional seminary in Bologna, Italy, Pope Francis posed a thought-provoking question to the seminarians: “What is the opposite of ‘I’?” Anticipating a simple ‘you’ in response, the seminarians were surprised when the Pope gently shook his head. He patiently explained, “No, the word ‘I’ denotes an individual, as does ‘you’. It’s illogical for singular words to be opposites. The true opposite of ‘I’ is ‘we’, representing the rich fabric of communitarian plurality.” The event loudly speaks of an inclusive, multicultural, and interconnected ‘we’ Church. This metaphorical shift from fragmented singular to communitarian plural represents the fertile diversity and collective existence that defines a synodal Church.
Fr Jayaseelan Savariarpitchai SDB
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