Introduction
In his final Pascua blessing, Pope Francis condemned the “great thirst for death and killing” and the disdain “sometimes aroused towards the vulnerable, marginalized, and migrants.” His voice echoes that of Pius XI, who passed away in 1938-39, advocating for peace amidst a world consumed by zero-sum conflicts and tribalism.
Historical Context: Pius XI’s Unpublished Encyclical
In the winter of 1938-39, as Europe was descending into war and Japanese forces attacked Beijing’s Marco Polo Bridge, Pius XI aimed to continue Benedict XV’s peace policy. He sought to condemn Mussolini’s racial laws and Nazi antisemitism, drafting an encyclical titled “Humani generis unitas” (On the Unity of Humanity). However, Pius XI passed away in February 1939, and the text was never published.
Pope Francis’ Final Pascua Blessing
On the Monday of Pascua, Pope Francis delivered his final blessing to Urbi et Orbi (To the City and the World), condemning the “great thirst for death and killing” and disdain towards vulnerable groups. The day before, he canceled a meeting with US Vice President J.D. Vance but left Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin to reprimand the US delegation.
Vance’s Interpretation of Christian Obligation
Earlier this year, a papal letter to US bishops implicitly criticized Vance for misinterpreting the Christian obligation to love one’s neighbor. Vance, converted to Catholicism in 2019, attempted to prioritize family concerns over those of foreigners and refugees. Pope Francis clarified, “Jesus Christ, loving all with universal love, teaches us to perpetually recognize the dignity of every human being without exception.”
Nacionalismo Étnico and Christian Message
Pope Francis identified ethnic nationalism as a distortion of the Christian message: “Focusing on personal, communal, or national identity apart from these considerations easily introduces an ideological criterion that distorts social life and imposes the will of the strong as a standard of truth.”
Impact of Pope Francis’ Final Words
At his funeral, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re reminded global leaders of Pope Francis’ genuine concern for the era’s globalization struggles and unwavering commitment to migrants, refugees, and marginalized groups.
Can a Spiritual Force Drive Global Change?
As the world grapples with crises, can a spiritual force or moral intervention create a new negotiation climate? Could it lead Western nations to care about Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by Trump’s USAID cuts?
Lessons from Pius XI’s Era
In 1939, Pius XI’s attempt to inspire change with a similar message failed. International institutions stalled, and cardinals elected a candidate they believed would uphold continuity: Eugenio Pacelli, who became Pius XII. His papacy, however, tarnished the Holy See’s moral authority for peace by suppressing his predecessor’s anti-Nazi encyclical and adopting a more cautious stance.
Conclusion: A Final Papal Message and Global Peace Summit
Though both papacies had fragile yet morally unblemished voices in a fractured world, can a final papal message and a global peace summit advance the cause of peace? We hope so.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was Pope Francis’ final Pascua blessing about? It condemned violence and disdain towards vulnerable groups, echoing Pius XI’s unpublished encyclical against racism and promoting peace.
- How did Pope Francis address ethnic nationalism? He identified it as a distortion of the Christian message, emphasizing universal love and human dignity.
- Can spiritual forces influence global change? A final papal message and a global peace summit may create a new negotiation climate, potentially addressing crises like those in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan.
Author: Harold James, Professor of History and International Affairs at Princeton University. Recently published “Seven Crashes: The Economic Crises That Shaped Globalization” (Yale University Press, 2023).
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 1995 – 2025
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