The address of Pope Francis to the General Assembly is a watershed
moment for the 70th anniversary of the United Nations and sets an
example to religious leaders everywhere. Sometimes a speech can change
the world. In 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru's "Tryst with Destiny" speech, on
the occasion of IndiaÂ’s independence on August 15, 1947 redefined
notions of freedom and became emblematic of the post-colonial struggle
around the globe.
Echoing his South Asian counterpart, then
Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal in a
speech in 1956, provoking a global confrontation with enormous
geopolitical ramifications for the Middle East. Seven years later,
Martin Luther King shared his "I had a dream" on the steps of the
Lincoln Memorial in Washington, a hallmark of the civil rights movement
and one of the most quoted speeches in history.
Each speech had
its context but they are alike in paradigmatic significance and in their
ability to spark an introspective reassessment of our humanity. On
September 25, 2015, Pope Francis' address to the United Nations set an
example to all religious leaders on their role and responsibility at a
time when the world - and humanity altogether - seems very much adrift.
In
terms of transformative speeches, the Pope's address is unique in a
number of ways. On the one hand, it stands out by virtue of who the Pope
is. Indeed, by addressing everything from climate change, economic
development and income inequality, he has positioned himself not just as
a religious leader but a conscientious, engaged - even progressive -
global thinker. In that sense, the Pope is an unexpected messenger of
some very significant messages.
His influence, therefore, should
not be underestimated. In the US alone, says a Pew Research Center
survey conducted recently, Pope Francis enjoyed a 90 percent
favorability rating among American Catholics. In addition, he is now
rated favorably by 70 percent of all Americans, up from 57 percent in
March 2013. Not to mention his ability to fundamentally alter the
contours of internationally diplomacy by facilitating a warming of
relations between the US and Cuba.
For a representative of 1.2
billion Catholics (from a total of 2.2 billion Christians), his message
served as an important rebuttal against the perception that religion is a
driver of conflict. Indeed, religion today is being defined by
televised beheadings, the ransacking of Parisien synagogues and
sword-wielding Buddhist lynch mobs.
The central tenants of world
religions - compassion, equality and justice - have been eclipsed by
hatred, intolerance and violent extremism as portrayed by traditional
and social media outlets. To hear the Pope speak of the “common home of
all men and womenÂâ€, “universal fraternity†and the “sacredness of
created nature†serves as a useful and refreshing reminder of the
essence of religion, especially given its powerful use (and misuse) in
politics and international affairs.
Religion, therefore, is
merely a fig leaf for the perpetrators of violence. It is first and
foremost the bestial instinct within man which is the true source of
such social and political ills. In the Pope's words, the "selfish and
boundless thirst for power and material prosperity" has led to both the
"misuse of available resources and to the exclusion of the weak and
disadvantaged".
In referencing the dangers of exclusion, the Pope
has touched on a nuance that the multilateral system is guilty of
shying away from: in UN terminology, this is the so-called "root causes"
debate.
Indeed, the bold argument made in his address is that
political malignancies, for example, terrorism and organized crime, are
simply a manifestation of a lack of social inclusion and a deficit of
participatory governance.
There is potentially no better weapon
against crimes committed in the name of religion than religion itself.
Following his appearance at the UN, the Pope participated in an
interfaith gathering at the 9/11 memorial. While this was indeed a
display of communal harmony and pluralism, it was equally a cri de couer
against religious extremism and, as he called it in his address,
"falsely universalistic ideologies".
It is this form of
interfaith gesture - spearheaded by a figure with gravitas like the Pope
- which remains a lacking component in the global effort to counter and
prevent violent extremism. A credible, persuasive and universal
narrative against extremism is desperately needed to dilute destructive
ideologies wrapped in religious garb.
The Pope is undoubtedly
setting an example among leaders within other faiths and denominations.
The question that remains however is who among 1.6 billion Muslims, 1
billion Hindus and hundreds of million Buddhists can play a similar
role? Who is that emblematic figure who can go beyond representing a
major faith and provide a message that is as bold, persuasive and
universal?
Above all, the Pope exemplified strong and engaged
leadership, a feature much lacking in today's disarrayed world,
seemingly headlined with the question: Who is in charge? This leadership
deficit has made the future of humanity all the more terrifying amidst a
backdrop of war, pandemics and chronic displacement.
And yet it
is a leadership couched in modesty and humility. As the speech came to
an end, the Pope asked: "If any of you are not believers, I ask you to
wish me well."
Sometimes a speech can change the world. The
responsibility to enact that change however rests not with the speaker
alone but with our ability to reflect on the wording, internalize its
lessons and take action in whatever way we can. On its 70th anniversary,
the Pope has given the United Nations some serious food for thought.
(Hardeep
Puri is vice president and Omar El Okdah is senior policy analyst at
the International Peace Institute, New York. The views expressed are
personal). They can be contacted at [email protected])
