“Fraternity, if it is necessary everywhere, cannot but be necessary in politics. Therefore, politicians, like everyone else, are called to commit themselves to put it into practice and to feel brothers among themselves, before their own passion for their parties, before the choices that differentiate the different opinions. Fraternal love unites, illuminates the choices to be made and makes them suitable for achieving the ends of politics itself: the common good”. – Chiara Lubich 

Melissa Mejía Flórez

MPPU Communications

The dream of a new politics, a new economy, a new science, a new medicine

 

Even before the official constitution of the Politics for Unity Movement, Chiara Lubich affirmed that this dream would be possible only if we started from “new men and women”. Only if we succeeded in making fraternity the fundamental principle of our relationships. We have believed together, as active citizens, that a culture of peace is possible, and regardless of our academic or cultural backgrounds, we have worked on values, attitudes, traditions and lifestyles that allow this to become a reality.

 

This year, for the second time, we find in our calendar the celebration of the International Day of Human Fraternity promoted by the United Nations that allows us to explore the wide territory of good practices to build a better world. A central reference point is the Document on “Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahamad al-Tayyeb on February 4, 2019. Almost a compass to promote the culture of dialogue, common collaboration and mutual knowledge for the construction of a more fraternal and peaceful world.

 

The Document was launched as a call to end wars and condemns the scourges of terrorism and violence, especially those with religious motivations.

 

The International Day of Human Fraternity was placed in the context of World Interfaith Harmony Week, which since February 2011 has sought to highlight the urgent need for dialogue among different faiths and religions for greater mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation among people, and that the moral imperatives of all religions, convictions and beliefs include peace, tolerance and mutual understanding.

 

This year, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, as well as the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity, has prepared an event entitled “A Pathway to the Future” to celebrate this international day.

 

Like world religious leaders, each of us can take a reflective attitude on the concept of Universal Fraternity from a perspective that integrates contextual and cultural aspects, highlighting the theoretical elaboration and practical application of fraternity, dialogue, democracy, migration and border scenarios, economic, environmental, social and cultural policies we can contribute to a concrete reflection on fraternity as a political category, as does for example the University Network for the Study of Fraternity – RUEF.

 

To all of us the invitation to think, build and promote concrete actions in favor of a sustainable world, and to do so in an integral way. Celebrating the International Day of Human Fraternity can be a starting point!