By Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh
Much will be written about Pope Francis, but here is my take on the life of this bravest Christian prophet of the 21st century. I wish I could have met him in person and also that he would come to Shillong. The only Pope who made it to Shillong was Pope John Paul II in 1986. Such visits by pontiffs were rare and Pope’s Francis’ visit would have been the rarest of all.
Encounter with Latin Theologians: To begin with, I encountered the theological giants of Latin America during my studies in Bishop’s College Kolkata. Thinkers like Gustavo Gutierrez and Juan Luis Segundo, have played a major role in shaping my understanding of the Bible in relation to the society beyond the Church walls. The liberation theology which originated in Latin America in the late 1960s was the result of the oppression by the ruling class on ordinary people. Liberation theology began by questioning the existence of the God of truth and righteousness in the light of oppression and exploitation. Gustavo Gutierrez, also known as the father of Liberation Theology said, “the starting point of Liberation Theology is commitment to the poor, the “non-person.” Thus, Liberation Theology laid strong emphasis on justice for the poor and marginalized and considers such theology as the basis approaching the problem of societies.
Pope Francis and Liberation: Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has a rich theological background that is influenced by his experiences in diverse and often challenging socio-political environments. While Pope Francis had shown his leaning towards Liberation Theology and its emphasis on social justice and the preferential option for the poor, he was also critical of some aspects of it and remained cautious about Marxist interpretations of it. According to Thomas Rees, “Pope Francis is uncomfortable with ideologies leaning to the left or the right. He was critical of certain forms of Liberation Theology because they incorporated Marxist analysis and supported violent revolution. He felt that these theologians were imposing their ideas on the poor rather than listening to their views. Also, Pope Francis is even more critical of libertarian capitalism, which blindly claims that all boats would rise with the tide of economic growth, because the people he met in the slums of Buenos Aires were in fact drowning without boats.” His pastoral work in Buenos Aires brought him into direct contact with the struggles of the urban poor, which shaped his understanding of justice, mercy and community.
During the meeting with Europe’s Jesuit editors in 2022, Pope Francis said, “Realities are more important than ideas”. Thus he laid emphasis on human realities rather than on abstract ideas. Pope Francis believed in face to face engagement with people. For him it was not enough to merely communicate ideas but to communicate ideas that come from experience. Moreover, ideas are to be discussed. Discussion is a good thing, but for him it was not enough. It is human reality that is to be discerned. Discernment is what really counts… Ideas are discussed, reality is discerned. Discernment is the charism of the Society.” (Jesuits in Ireland). The humanitarian crises which resulted from the genocide in Gaza had deeply pained the Pope. He was outspoken in his criticism of the Israeli military’s harsh tactics and had urged for an investigation into whether Israel’s war amounted to genocide? He had called for a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas militant group and also urged Hamas to release the Israeli hostages it was holding while condemning growing global anti-semitism.
Meghalaya’s Workers and Pope Francis: In Meghalaya, workers are the most exploited and oppressed section. The State is known for its low wages and income disparity, with poverty sharply on the rise. Between 2013 and 2016, Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) spearheaded a workers’ rights campaign in the State, highlighting the problems faced by workers in both formal sectors, such as government and private institutions, and informal sectors.
The campaign began with the distribution of pamphlets that enlightened workers about their basic rights and the laws protecting their livelihoods and right to work. Several groups of workers responded to this initiative, leading to the mobilization and unionization of various workers’ groups. Among those who came forward to unionize were the workers from Nazareth Hospital, private security guards, street vendors and hawkers, the long-standing casual workers of MeECL, a few private school/college teachers etc.
Meghalaya had never experienced such mobilization before. The fear workers had of confronting their employers was overwhelming and often overshadowed their existential struggles. Many workers were apprehensive about facing their employers and the potential consequences of doing so.
During this critical moment, Pope Francis assumed the papacy, and his inspiring message to workers around the world became a rallying point for the workers in Meghalaya. His words encouraged them to cast aside their fears, doubts and anxieties; empowering them to confront their employers and advocate for their rights. Pope Francis clearly stated that, “every worker, within the formal system of salaried employment or outside it, should have the right to decent remuneration, to social security and to a pension. Among you here are waste-collectors, recyclers, peddlers, seamstresses or tailors, artisans, fishermen, farmworkers, builders, miners, workers in previously abandoned enterprises, members of all kinds of cooperatives and workers in grass-roots jobs who are excluded from labour rights, who are denied the possibility of unionizing, whose income is neither adequate nor stable. Today I want to join my voice to yours and support you in your struggle.” This message resonated deeply with the workers of Meghalaya, motivating them to stand up for their dignity and respect at the workplace.
Laudato si’ and Hynniewtrep Wisdom: For every indigenous community (Adivasi/Tribal) environment is sacrosanct and is intrinsic to life. This relation is expressed in folklores, songs and manifested through cultures and dances. From West Papua to Chattisgarh to Khasi-Jaintia and Garo Hills in Meghalaya, the indigenous people have a shared belief, practices and strong bonding with the entire ecological system. The Hynniewtrep people of Khasi-Jaintia Hills have a deep respect for nature and possess traditional practices aimed at preserving the environment, for example, the “law kyntang” and “law shnong” or commons. The indigenous wisdom of environment protection lies in reciprocity and interdependence among the whole creation. The environment is relational and is inclusive of land, people, animals, rivers, trees, flora and fauna, sea and sky etc. The negation of one means the negation of others. The concept of interdependence gives people a god-like character such as love, compassion, co-operation, sharing and solidarity.
Pope Francis’ encyclical entitled, Laudato si’ marked a shift towards “integral ecology,” which acknowledges the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and spiritual issues. During the workshop entitled Indigenous Peoples’ Knowledge and Sciences held in Vatican, Pope Francis encouraged a closer collaboration between Indigenous and scientific knowledge to address climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and threats to food and health security facing the world today. He laid emphasis on reciprocal listening: “Listening to indigenous peoples in order to learn from their wisdom and from their lifestyles, and at the same time listening to scientists, in order to benefit from their research.” His sharp call was that, “all of us are called to an ecological conversion: a commitment to saving our common home and to fostering intergenerational solidarity in order to preserve the life of future generations, rather than wasting resources and aggravating inequality, exploitation, and destruction”.
Who Am I to Judge?
Pope Francis was the voice of compassion and inclusivity, particularly for marginalized communities such as the LGBTQ+ individuals and refugees striving for a better life. His unwavering support is deeply rooted in the teachings of the Bible, which advocate for love, acceptance, empathy and mercy. He even questioned those who claim to be Christian, but behave in an ungodly manner. He pungently remarked, “It is hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of help. If I say I am a Christian, but do these things, I am a hypocrite”.
In a world fraught with prejudice, hate and fear, Pope Francis reminds us of the sanctity of every human life, emphasizing that we are called to love one another without judgment. His famous phrase, “Who am I to judge?” reflects a profound understanding of human dignity and the complexity of individual journeys. This message echoes the core Christian principle that all people are deserving of respect and compassion, regardless of their backgrounds or identities.
While we mourn and await the election of the new Pope, let us learn and live up to the teachings of this great Pope. “Leit suk sha Dwar U Blei” (Travel well to the courtyards of the Lord), Papa Francis.