By Cedric Prakash
This is the last of a three-part series on Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo’s first encyclical.
Ahmedabad, May 31, 2026: Pope Leo’s call to the Church to do a serious examination of conscience will make many within the Church uncomfortable.
He says that the five principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church, should be applied not only to society, but also to the Church herself, which must make “an examination of conscience.”
The Pope says living out this justice calls for “purifying ecclesial relationships and structures from distortions that give rise to inequality, lack of transparency and abuse of power.”
This means to listen to the “victims of spiritual, economic, institutional, sexual and power-based abuse, as well as abuses of conscience.”
This examen, “is an integral part of a journey toward justice, which includes acknowledging the harm done, just reparation and taking steps to prevent it from happening again”.
Pope Leo upholds the importance of combating new forms of slavery as a “decisive test for ethical discernment” in the digital transformation.
He stresses, “the Church renews her firm condemnation of every form of slavery, trafficking, and commodification of persons” and he underscores that to not react or to tolerate grave violations of human dignity means becoming accomplices to them. He asks pardon,
“This (slavery) constitutes a wound in Christian memory, one from which we cannot consider ourselves detached.
“It is impossible not to feel deep sorrow when contemplating the immense suffering and humiliation endured by so many in stark contrast to their immeasurable dignity as persons infinitely loved by the Lord. For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon.”
He indicates five paths of responsibility for the way ahead, they are:
disarming words by speaking the truth;
building peace in justice;
adopting the perspective of victims by taking a stand, because there are conflicts in which “it is unjust to remain neutral”;
cultivating “a healthy realism” that seeks practicable paths of peace through deeds, not only words!
He emphasizes the need to relaunch dialogue by moving from a culture of power to a culture of negotiation; of decisive importance is “interreligious dialogue”, being bearers of a message of peace.
He says, “those who use the name of God to legitimize terrorism, violence or war betray his true nature, for to fight in the name of religion means attacking religion itself”.
A strong message to today’s warmongers; to those who use the name of God to justify their wars! God is synonymous with compassion, not with hate, violence and war!
Towards the end he gives the world an antidote to ‘stay human’, “As we look to the future, I would like to recall the image of Nehemiah whom we chose as our companion and guide at the outset.
“Nehemiah heard the cry of a devastated city, brought that pain to prayer, discerned before God, asked for help, received permission to return, organized the work, confronted internal and external resistance.
“He rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem with the assistance of the people, brick by brick.
“In this era of digital transformation, I see in him a striking parable of our own vocation, which is not to be passive spectators of social and cultural fractures, nor mere commentators on what is crumbling.
“Men and women prepared to enter the construction sites of history — research laboratories, technology companies, schools, the media, institutions, and local communities — in order to rebuild what has collapsed and protect what is threatened.
“Like Nehemiah, we too are called to unite listening and courage, prayer and responsibility, so that, even when a technocratic mentality or partisan interests seem to prevail, the human city may become a more fitting place to live.”
Today, our world in several aspects has either lost or is fast losing its humaneness; concluding with Mary’s ‘Magnificat’ Pope Leo challenges us all to Be Human! Stay Human!
Jesuit Father Cedric Prakash is a human rights, reconciliation & peace activist and writer. Contact: cedricprakash@gmail.com.
(Concluded)