Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “Paul VI clearly understood that the social question had become worldwide and he grasped the interconnection between the impetus towards the unification of humanity and the Christian ideal of a single family of peoples in solidarity and fraternity.” (Caritas in veritate, n 13). The world longs, in a sense, for universal unity and brotherhood, but at the same time, it is aware that unity cannot be the fruit of any individual 'commitment' since, in a way, it is, 'bestowed' . Christians are convinced that unity is only achieved through conversion to Christ. However efforts which from many sides are undertaken, when they re-propose the presumption of the “tower of Babel”, in other words the building of world unity without God, could show themselves to be totally ineffective and the bearers of incomplete unity in danger of collapsing on itself. Such human efforts, if sincere, are actually signs of a seeking for the very unity which the Church has announced for no less than two thousand years, fully aware on what this unity must be founded if it is to be solid.
In this regard the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches certain truths which deserve attentive and unitary consideration. The first is that the unity of the human race comes from creation: “Because of its common origin the human race forms a unity”, citing the teaching of Pope Pius XII and Vatican II (360). The second concerns redemption: “"The Church, in Christ, is like a sacrament - a sign and instrument, that is, of communion with God and of unity among all men. The Church's first purpose is to be the sacrament of the inner union of men with God… the Church is the "sign and instrument" of the full realization of the unity yet to come.” (775).
Jesus established his Church to make it the sign and the first fruit of the unity of the whole human race which He redeemed with His blood: this is the cornerstone not to be rejected for the work of salvation to come to completion. The third truth comes from eschatology: the unity of which the Church is the mysterious sign and seed, is God's Kingdom where “ those who are united with Christ will form the community of the redeemed, …She will not be wounded any longer by sin, stains, self-love, that destroy or wound the earthly community. The beatific vision…will be the ever-flowing well-spring of happiness, peace, and mutual communion.” (1045).
Christians know that they are in the world but not of the world, and that their task is to be the 'salt of the earth' which, as the Fathers say, serves to keep the world from corruption. Therefore we can also say that without Christ's Church, of which Christians are members, the world and mankind “constitutionally oriented towards “being more” (CV, n. 14), can never see the longing for unity fulfilled. Since they cannot transform themselves.
Therefore we understand that the “the achievement of authentic fraternity” (CV, n. 20) is the urgency dictated by charity in truth. A worldly authority which overlooks this fact, could never work sincerely to achieve the common good (cf. n. 67). (Agenzia Fides 1/10/2009)
