The Face of Mercy / Daniel Conway

Pope Francis and a new style of politics built on peace

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other one to him as well” (Mt 5:38-39).

In his 2017 World Day of Peace message, Pope Francis called for “a new style of politics built on peace and nonviolence.” His message comes none too soon as the world continues the vicious cycle of violence, and political discourse becomes increasingly intolerable.

Pope Francis offers a solution to the problem of violence that is not new but is very difficult to achieve. He calls it “active nonviolence.”

There is a tendency to view peace—and peacemakers—as passive. Peacemaking is too often seen simply as “turning the other cheek,” accepting the blows of misfortune with a faint hope that things will turn out OK in the end. This is not the kind of peacemaking that Pope Francis urges us to adopt. His way of making peace is active, not passive. It is the way of St. Teresa of Calcutta, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and, according to Pope Francis, “the thousands of women in Liberia who helped end their nation’s civil war.”

“Active nonviolence is a way of showing that unity is truly more powerful than conflict,” Pope Francis says. The differences between us are real. So are the wounds and the bitter disagreements. But we need to be willing “to face conflict head on, to resolve it” and to make active nonviolence our preferred method of dealing with whatever difficulties exist among individuals, families, communities, nations and peoples.

Having spent an entire year concentrating on mercy as the source of healing and hope, it’s not surprising that the Holy Father calls attention to our need to “banish violence from our hearts, words and deeds” so that we can become peacemakers—nonviolent people who are committed to building nonviolent communities that promote the common good and care for our common home.

Pope Francis proclaims the conviction affirmed by all true religions: Violence is never good, never holy and never God’s will. “I emphatically affirm that no religion is terrorist and the name of God can never be used to justify violence. Peace alone is holy. Peace alone is holy, not war.”

Sadly, religious people do not always adhere to this truth. Too often, we seek vengeance rather than forgiveness, and we sow seeds of discord instead of solidarity. That’s why mercy is so necessary to nonviolence and why forgiveness is the key to setting aside wrongs and embracing the future together.

Nonviolence is needed to end global hostilities, but Pope Francis clearly reminds us of the old saying that “all politics is local.” Peacemaking must begin at home—in the hearts of individuals, families and communities. In the words of the popular hymn, “Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.” If I am angry with my brother or sister, I must make peace with them—for my own good and the good of the family.

The new style of politics that Pope Francis calls for is a far cry from the divisive politics recently witnessed in Europe, the United States and elsewhere. It is not ugly name-calling or suspicious accusations leveled against politicians and their supporters. “In the most local and ordinary situations and in the international order,” Pope Francis prays, “may nonviolence become the hallmark of our decisions, our relationships and our actions, and indeed of political life in all its forms.” Active nonviolence is the genuine search for common ground and an earnest commitment to work together for the common good of all.

Yes, we will have differences among us—in our homes, our communities and among nations. But “let us face them constructively and nonviolently,” the pope writes, “so that tension and opposition can turn into diversified and life-giving unity.”

Jesus’ command to turn the other cheek is not an invitation to passivity. It is an admonition to be bold and courageous in the face of evil and to respond nonviolently, not with anger or vengeance.

Let’s listen carefully to the message of Pope Francis, and the words and example of Jesus, and commit ourselves to active nonviolence as the new “style of politics” here at home and throughout the world!
 

(Daniel Conway is a member of The Criterion’s editorial committee.) †