Evangelise but don’t impose any cultural models

Aug 21, 2014

By Andrea Tornielli
“Authentic dialogue” and “empathy” were at the heart of the Pope’s speech. “We are challenged to listen not only to the words which others speak, but to the unspoken communication of their experiences, their hopes and aspirations, their struggles and their deepest concerns.” “Such empathy must be the fruit of our spiritual insight and personal experience, which lead us to see others as brothers and sisters, and to “hear”, in and beyond their words and actions, what their hearts wish to communicate.”

“I cannot engage in dialogue unless I am open to others. What I should say is: come into my home; we have to open up our hearts.” “This capacity for empathy enables a true human dialogue in which words, ideas and questions arise from an experience of fraternity and shared humanity. It leads to a genuine encounter in which heart speaks to heart. We are enriched by the wisdom of the other and become open to travelling together the path to greater understanding, friendship and solidarity.”

“But my brother Pope, if I act like this, no one will ever convert!” Francis said voicing a possible objection. “You do this, listen to that, walk with him. This refers to the doctrine of our father Abraham ... I should not bring the other to me. Pope Benedict XVI said it very clearly: the Church does not grow through proselytism but by attracting others.” “If we want to get to the theological root of this we go to the Father, we are all children of the Father.”

Dialogue has its basis in “the incarnation in Jesus, God himself became one of us, shared in our life and spoke to us in our own language.”Here the Pope pronounced a phrase from the prepared speech, adding one very significant point in reference to China. “In this spirit of openness to others, I earnestly hope that those countries of your continent with which the Holy See does not yet enjoy a full relationship, may not hesitate to further a dialogue for the benefit of all. And here I do not only refer to political dialogue but to fraternal dialogue as well.” In an improvised statement, he then added: “These Christians do not come as conquerors; they don’t come to take away our identity. They bring us their own identity but want to walk with us.” “The Lord will grant us his grace, some will ask for baptism and some will not, but we will always walk together.”

Essentially, Christians do not intend to impose any cultural models and neither are they motivated by political strategies. They simply wish to proclaim the Gospel, not achieve a political regime change.

achieve a political regime change. Therefore, being rooted in the Lord is what is important, everything else is secondary “because Christ is our life, let us speak “from him and of him,” readily and without hesitation or fear. The simplicity of His word becomes evident in the simplicity of our lives, in the simplicity of our communication, in the simplicity of our works of loving service to our brothers and sisters.”

Without a grounding in Christ, dialogue can be reduced to a form of negotiation or an agreement to disagree. -- Vatican Insider