Hope

1. Hope is a dynamic journey, not passive waiting, fueled by memory and dreams.

Hope is above all the virtue of movement and the engine of change: It’s the tension that brings together memory and utopia to truly build the dreams that await us.

Hope drives action. Hope isn't merely waiting for things to get better; it's an active force that propels us forward. It connects our past experiences (memory) with our aspirations for the future (utopia) to build the world we dream of. This dynamic tension prevents stagnation and fuels personal and collective change.

Memory sustains hope. Our personal and collective memories, even painful ones, are embers from which hope can be rekindled. Remembering where we come from, the struggles overcome, and the people who shaped us provides the strength and perspective needed to face present challenges and continue dreaming, even if dreams fade and need to be reimagined.

Christian hope blossoms. For Christians, hope is grounded in the certainty that God is present in every moment, past, present, and future. This faith assures that all things are born to blossom, promising an eternal springtime where God's presence is ultimately recognized in everything.

2. The immigrant experience reveals shared humanity and the dignity of the poor.

Those who emigrated often faced all kinds of hardships and sacrifices to get on board.

Migration is a timeless story. The author's own family history, narrowly escaping the SS Principessa Mafalda disaster and migrating from Italy to Argentina, highlights the universal struggle and hope inherent in the immigrant journey. Millions have left their homes seeking a better life, facing poverty, exploitation, and the harsh reality of starting anew in unfamiliar lands.

Shared struggles and resilience. Stories of migrants arriving at places like the Hotel de Inmigrantes in Buenos Aires, facing squalor and uncertainty, echo the experiences of migrants today. Despite immense hardship, these individuals brought strength, courage, perseverance, and faith, contributing their talents to build new societies.

Solidarity is essential. Recognizing our shared history as migrants calls for solidarity with those seeking refuge today. Indifference to the suffering of migrants, symbolized by tragedies at sea or hostile architectures, is a denial of our common humanity and a failure to answer God's question to Cain: "What have you done?"

3. War is a senseless folly, a source of injustice, and a betrayal of fraternity.

War is folly!

War destroys everything. Drawing from his grandfather's WWI experiences and the stories of WWII immigrants, the author emphasizes that war is an absurd, alienating, and ultimately useless massacre. It destroys lives, families, and the bond of fraternity, leaving behind only a gruesome balance sheet of death, injury, and injustice.

Injustice fuels conflict. Wars are often driven by economic interests, thirst for power, and mad geopolitical plans, benefiting merchants of death while innocent civilians, especially the vulnerable, pay the highest price. The rush to armaments and the proliferation of weapons are symptoms of deep injustice and a betrayal of human dignity.

Peace requires courage. True peace is not achieved through violence or aggression but through dialogue, negotiation, and reconciliation. It requires rejecting the "What does it matter to me?" mentality and cultivating humility, generosity, and kindness, starting in our own hearts and communities.

4. Encountering others, especially the marginalized, is essential for human and Christian growth.

Being close, living in true harmony with others, means being unafraid even to go into their night.

Encounter enriches life. The author's childhood in the diverse Flores barrio, with friends from various ethnic and religious backgrounds (Jewish, Muslim), and encounters with people from different walks of life (prostitutes, laborers, artists), shaped his understanding of humanity. This "culture of encounter" requires openness, respect, and a willingness to receive from others.

Margins reveal truth. Reality, especially human and social reality, is often better understood from the margins than from the center. Engaging with those on the fringes – the poor, the sick, the outcasts – reveals the true face of humanity and the presence of God, challenging prejudices and fostering compassion.

Service is encounter. True service, like that of the "cura villeros" in Buenos Aires' shantytowns or the nuns who cared for the sick and poor, is always an encounter. It's about walking with people, sharing their lives, and learning from their wisdom and resilience, recognizing that we are often the ones who receive more than we give.

5. Mercy is God's core identity and the path for sinners, offering forgiveness and transformation.

God has looked upon me with mercy and has forgiven me.

God is mercy. The author's personal motto, "miserando atque eligendo" (mercying and choosing), reflects his profound conviction that God's primary attribute is mercy. Like the story of Matthew the tax collector, God looks upon sinners with compassion, choosing and transforming them despite their failings.

Sin is a poverty to be redeemed. Recognizing oneself as a sinner is the first step towards receiving God's mercy. Unlike corruption, which locks the door from within and denies blame, sin leaves a "narrow chink" for God to enter and heal. Confession is a vital practice for experiencing this ongoing mercy.

Forgiveness is transformative. God forgives with affection, not just by decree. This divine forgiveness empowers us to forgive others, breaking cycles of resentment and bitterness. The power of forgiveness, both given and received, is essential for personal healing and the renewal of relationships.

6. The Church must be an open, maternal community for all, fighting indifference and clericalism.

The Church, a house for everyone, not a small chapel that can hold just a group of the select few.

The Church is God's people. The Church is not a rigid hierarchy or an exclusive club, but the holy faithful people of God journeying through history. It is a mother who welcomes and gathers all her children, including those in irregular situations or from marginalized groups, without exception.

Synodality is the path. The Church must be synodal, walking together, listening to one another and to the Spirit. This means overcoming clericalism, which is a perversion that replaces the Gospel with ideology, and ensuring that the voices and contributions of all, especially the laity and women, are valued and integrated at all levels.

Go out to the peripheries. A Church that is self-referential becomes sick. It must constantly go out of itself to the existential and geographical peripheries, bringing the "sweet and comforting joy of evangelizing" to all, especially the poor and suffering, rather than clinging to comfort or outdated traditions.

7. Caring for our common home and fighting global injustices are urgent moral imperatives.

To restore dignity to those excluded from society, to fight poverty and exploitation, to care for the environment, and to protect our own lives are needs that certainly cannot be separated...

All is interconnected. The pandemic and the climate crisis have starkly revealed our interdependence and the fragility of our planet. Environmental degradation, poverty, exploitation, and health disasters are not separate issues but facets of a single, complex socio-environmental crisis demanding an integrated approach.

Indifference is criminal. Globalized indifference allows massacres, exploitation, and environmental destruction to continue. Ignoring the suffering of others, whether migrants, victims of war, or those harmed by pollution, is a cowardly act that harms ourselves and our common home.

Peace requires justice. True peace is inseparable from justice. It requires fighting the root causes of conflict, which often lie in economic systems that kill and exclude, and in the hoarding of resources and power by a few. Investing in peace, justice, and care for creation is the only path to prevent humanity's self-destruction.

8. Humor, joy, and humility are vital for navigating life's difficulties and connecting with others.

Humor is an affirmation of dignity, a declaration of man’s superiority to all that befalls him.

Joy is a Christian trait. Despite life's inevitable sadnesses, joy is a fundamental aspect of Christian life. It's not about denying problems but about possessing an inner strength and perspective that allows us to face difficulties with fortitude and even a smile.

Humor is wisdom. Humor, irony, and self-mockery are powerful tools for maintaining perspective, overcoming narcissism, and connecting with others. They break down barriers and reveal a healthy humility, reminding us that perfection is unattainable and that we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously.

Children teach us joy. Children, with their spontaneity, enthusiasm, and capacity for laughter, are models of the joy and trust that adults often lose. Reclaiming a childlike ability to smile and engage with the world is essential for human wholeness and spiritual vitality.

9. Christian hope is an invincible certainty, rooted in God's unwavering love and presence.

Hope never disappoints.

Hope is not optimism. Unlike optimism, which can be betrayed, Christian hope is an unshakeable certainty. It is the conviction that God loves us unconditionally, is always with us, and that we are destined for eternal life and happiness, regardless of present suffering or setbacks.

Hope is an anchor. Like the anchor depicted by early Christians, hope provides stability and security amidst life's storms. It is a powerful force that sustains us, prevents us from drowning in despair, and encourages us to persevere even when faced with immense difficulties.

Hope carries us forward. Hope is the "little girl" who carries faith and charity, seeing not just what is, but what will be. It is a vital, active virtue that propels us forward, enabling us to live courageously in the present while looking towards the future with confidence in God's promises.

10. Life is an adventure demanding courage, risk, and a commitment to building peace and fraternity.

Life isn’t handed to us like an opera libretto: It is an adventure into which we must throw ourselves.

Embrace the journey. Life is not a predetermined script but an adventure that requires active participation and a willingness to take risks. Failures and difficulties are part of the process, but they should not paralyze us; instead, they offer lessons and opportunities for growth.

Build bridges, not walls. True progress and security come from building relationships, fostering fraternity, and working together, not from isolation, suspicion, or conflict. The courage of reconciliation must replace the cowardice of arms.

Be artisans of change. We are called to be active participants in shaping history, not passive observers. This means fighting injustice, caring for creation, and sowing seeds of peace and hope, believing that even small gestures can contribute to a more just and fraternal world.

Last updated: May 3, 2025