Pope Francis Makes a Clarion Call for Belonging

This month, Pope Francis released a long-awaited Encyclical letter on the state of global society. In it, he argues that we are actually contending with more than one pandemic right now. Even before COVID-19 took hold at the beginning of the year, he writes, we were already facing pandemics of inequality, xenophobia and pollution — pandemics that are even more pernicious than the virus over the long run.

Yet, Pope Francis is clear that we can and will solve the current crises, building a world of belonging. He presents a universal message for social justice  — one that speaks not only to his Catholic followers. “Working to overcome our divisions without losing our identity as individuals,” he writes, “presumes that a basic sense of belonging is present in everyone.”

In her latest article in Medium, “Pope Francis Makes a Clarion Call for Belonging,” SCSC Founder Kim Samuel draws on Pope Francis’ inspired new Encyclical to make the case for why now, more than ever, we need to prioritize building belonging in our world. The article explores how this means building structures of care that invite people to be active participants in community. As Pope Francis underscores, preserving the rich social and cultural tapestry of humanity is, in fact, necessary for saving our people and planet in this moment. The solution isn’t domination, but, rather, love and respect.