Pope Francis and the Problem of War in Fratelli Tutti

Pope Francis has contributed two encyclicals to the magisterial tradition of reflecting “out loud” to the world about pressing problems. In this, he follows a pattern set by his predecessors since Pope Leo XIII in the late nineteenth century. Pope Francis has had, however, the unique misfortune of promulgating reflections in the age of social media and its staggering contribution to the deepening of divisions inside and outside the Church. So, the reception of Laudato Si’ (2015) and now Fratelli Tutti (2020) is vulnerable to being damaged by instant yet entrenched responses reflective of little thought or consideration, but concerned with advancing prior agendas. Read Full Article »