By Victor Edwin
New Delhi: The Department of Distance Education in Theology under Delhi’s Vidyajyoti College of theology organized an international laity webinar on the third encyclical of Pope Francis Fratelli Tutti (All Brothers).
Around 380 participants from Europe to East Asia attended the January 24 program.
Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi and Father Stanislaus D’Souza, president of South Asian Jesuits, opened the webinar. Both pointed out that Fratelli Tutti teaches about the tangible ways that humans can build a just and fraternal world. They further said that by affirming that all human beings are brothers and sisters, the family of God, Fratelli Tutti promotes universal aspiration towards fraternity.
Conrad Rodrigues of Mumbai, Jude Fernandez of Chennai, Silveria D’Souza of Kuwait and Luke Anthony of Malaysia presented papers. They were all former lay students of Vidyajoti.
The common thread in their presentation was that the encyclical invites all people of good will to work towards justice and reconciliation through dialogue so that peace is born in the world that is strewn with conflicts.
They further highlighted the centrality of forgiveness in this journey of love since forgiveness laced with justice heals the wounded and defends the dignity of all. They also pointed out the mother earth bears the pockmarks of many conflicts and this needs a global action. This global action must begin from everyone.