Francis and the Saracens

Respected Holy Father Pope Francis,

Three years ago, when I heard the news of your election, and your choice of St Francis of Assisi, I bowed my head before the Lord in joy and thanksgiving. Subsequent events have reinforced the belief that you are God’s chosen one, for the renewal and reformation of the Church, just as the Lord chose St Francis of Assisi seven centuries ago. The similarities cannot be dismissed as mere coincidence.

At that time there was much corruption in an opulent and corpulent Catholic Church. In the Italy of his time there were only two classes – the Majori (landed aristocracy) and the Minori (landless peasantry). Francis belonged to a third emerging class, the son of a rich cloth merchant. At that time the Crusades to liberate the Holy Land from the Saracens (Muslim warriors) was at its zenith. The young Francis was also enamoured by the knights in shining armour, and wanted to join them. That was before the Lord touched his heart and gave him the mandate, “Go and repair my Church”.

Today’s circumstances are no different from what they then were. The mighty, monolithic Catholic Church prided itself on its magnificent churches, pious devotions and an uninterrupted supply of personnel – both priests and religious. World War II shattered erstwhile Christendom; and had not good Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church today would have been as dead as a dodo. Again, in society we see a new aspirational class emerging all over the world, in developed countries, emerging nations and the erstwhile eastern Bloc.

But the greatest cause of concern today is the contemporary Saracens; those who in the name of religion seek to annihilate the “other” – the infidel (Kafir), idolater or unbeliever. This movement was earlier a reaction to imperial western powers, that through their military interventions, rode roughshod over Iraq and Afghanistan.

Unfortunately, violence breeds even more violence, and this radical movement soon turned to “religion”, or pseudo religion, as their main source of sustenance. What is truly disturbing is that these radicals are now using the phrase “death to the crusaders”. It is no longer a geo-political battle, nor Samuel Huntington’s “Clash of Civilizations”. It has now assumed serious religious overtones. This explains the selective slaughter of Christians, earlier in Nigeria and Somalia, and now even more so in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. The murder or abduction of Catholic priests and religious is not co-incidental. There is a method in the “madness”. The cold-blooded killing of 86-year-old Fr Jacques Hamel, while celebrating the Holy Eucharist in a church in France, is but the latest pointer to what lies ahead.

Here again we can find inspiration in the life of St Francis of Assisi. After his conversion, not only did he surrender his former aspiration to become a crusading knight, he went to the other extreme; of engaging in dialogue with the Saracens. Perhaps it was for this reason that the late Pope John Paul II held a world conference of religious leaders at Assisi itself, some years ago.

As our spiritual father, it is not only the Catholic Church that looks up to you for leadership. At a time when there is much hypocrisy in both religious and political leadership, and even the UN has become but a toy in the hands of the superpowers, you stand out as a man of conviction, concern and compassion. The world therefore looks to you for decisive leadership, to bring about peace and reconciliation.

Prayer:

It is therefore my humble prayer to you to convene Assisi II. Please call leaders of all world religions for a weeklong dialogue, prayer and reflection. It will send out a strong message to the entire world, especially to those that advocate and perpetrate violence; that the God of all is not pleased by bloodshed, hatred or enmity.

In the past you have washed the feet of prisoners and drug addicts; and welcomed Muslim refugees. These are edifying acts, but they are no longer enough. As a humble believer in Jesus Christ, the prince of peace, I appeal to you to set all else aside, and make the re-establishment of peace and religious co-existence the top priority of your papacy.

Yours devotedly,

Signed

Chhotebhai, president Kanpur Catholic Association
Former National President, All India Catholic Union
Former Director: International Council of Catholic Men (UNUM OMNES)
Email: noronha.kp@gmail.com

Note to readers: This appeal has been sent to Pope Francis through the Papal Nuncio in India, and copied to the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India. Those who are in broad agreement with what has been written herein above are requested to write emails in support of this campaign to the following email ids: nuntius@apostolicnunciatureindia.com and cbcisec@gmail.com They could also forward this request to atleast 10 other persons known to them for doing the needful. Thanks