Humility
and love are indispensable traits of those who govern, while citizens,
especially if they are Catholic, cannot be indifferent to politics. That
was Pope Francis’ message this morning during his daily Mass at Santa
Marta, as he called for prayers for those in authority.
The
Gospel of the centurion who, with humility and confidence, asks for the
healing of his servant; and the letter of Saint Paul to Timothy with the
invitation to pray for those who govern, inspired the Pope to “reflect
on the service of authority.”
Those who govern, Pope Francis said, “have
to love their people,” because “a leader who doesn’t love, cannot
govern – at best they can discipline, they can give a little bit of
order, but they can’t govern.”
The Pope considered David, “how he loved
his people,” so much that after the sin of the census he asked the Lord
not to punish the people, but [to punish] him. These, then, are “the two
virtues of a leader”: love for the people and humility.
“You
can’t govern without loving the people and without humility! And every
man, every woman who has to take up the service of government, must ask
themselves two questions: ‘Do I love my people in order to serve them
better? Am I humble and do I listen to everybody, to diverse opinions in
order to choose the best path.’ If you don’t ask those questions, your
governance will not be good. The man or woman who governs – who loves
his people is a humble man or woman.”
From another point of
view, Saint Paul exhorts those who are governed to lift up prayers for
those who have authority, so that they might be able to lead a calm and
peaceful life. Citizens cannot be indifferent to politics:
“None
of us can say, ‘I have nothing to do with this, they govern. . . .’ No,
no, I am responsible for their governance, and I have to do the best so
that they govern well, and I have to do my best by participating in
politics according to my ability. Politics, according to the Social
Doctrine of the Church, is one of the highest forms of charity, because
it serves the common good. I cannot wash my hands, eh? We all have to
give something!”
There is a tendency, the Pope observed, to
only speak ill of leaders, and to mutter about “things that don’t go
well.” “You listen to the television and they’re beating [them] up,
beating [them] up; you read the papers and their beating [them] up. . .
.” He continued, “Yes, maybe the leader is a sinner, as David was, but I
have to work with my opinions, with my words, even with my corrections”
because we all have to participate for the common good. It is not true
that Catholics should not meddle in politics:
“‘A good
Catholic doesn’t meddle in politics.’ That’s not true. That is not a
good path. A good Catholic meddles in politics, offering the best of
himself, so that those who govern can govern. But what is the best that
we can offer to those who govern? Prayer! That’s what Paul says: “Pray
for all people, and for the king and for all in authority.” “But Father,
that person is wicked, he should go to hell. . . .” Pray for him, pray
for her, that they can govern well, that they can love their people,
that they can serve their people, that they can be humble.”
A Christian
who does not pray for those who govern is not a good Christian! “But
Father, how will I pray for that person, a person who has problems. . .
.” “Pray that that person might convert!”
So, the Pope
concluded, we give the best of ourselves, our ideas, suggestions, the
best, but above all the best is prayer. Let us pray for our leaders,
that they might govern well, that they might advance our homeland, might
lead our nation and even our world forward, for the sake of peace and
of the common good.