Is it possible to fulfill Francisco’s dream for the world?

The book

Pope Francis has completed this Sunday, December 13, 51 years as a priest. Next December 17 will be 83 years. This year, the pontiff has shown us his most intimate and profound face during a pandemic that has left the most intimate Holy Week in recent times. The situation has also brought a new encyclical, five years after ‘Laudato Si’, which offers a call to universal brotherhood and social friendship.

One last gift is the book ‘Let’s Dream Together’ that arises from conversations with journalist Austen Ivereigh. In addition to the personal experiences of Pope Francis that have been widely discussed, the pontiff goes beyond the pandemic to let reality question him about racism, hatred, discrimination, the destruction of the planet or the abusive economy.

“Is it possible that the perspective that women bring to this crisis is the one that the world needs today to face the challenges that lie ahead? A hope in people in the face of world structures that have failed. “We cannot go back to the false security of the political and economic structures that we had before the crisis. We need economies that allow everyone access to the fruits of creation, to the basic necessities of life: land, shelter and work. We need policies that can integrate and dialogue with the poor, the excluded, the vulnerable, and allow them to have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. You have to slow down, become aware and design better ways to coexist in this world ”, proposes Bergoglio.

The proposal for the future is fraternity lived intensely from human dignity. Something that transcends the differences between religions or before the indifferent. “We have to find ways for those who were discarded to become actors in a new future. We have to involve the people in a common project that benefits not only a small group of people. We have to change the way that society itself functions after the Covid crisis ”, claims Francisco.

The poem

The book closes with a poem also written in these months. It is titled ‘Esperanza’ and it is the work of the Cuban presenter, actor, writer, producer, composer, musician and poet Alexis Valdés. Shared in March on their social networks is a new call to hope:

When the storm passes
And the roads are smoothed
and let’s be survivors
of a collective shipwreck.

With a tearful heart
and the blessed destiny
we will feel happy
just to be alive.

And we will give you a hug
to the first stranger
and we will praise luck
to keep a friend.

And then we will remember
everything we lost
and at once we will learn
everything we didn’t learn.

We will no longer be envious
for all will have suffered.
We will no longer have laziness
We will be more compassionate.

What belongs to everyone will be worth more
That you never achieved
We will be more generous
And much more committed

We will understand the fragile
what does it mean to be alive
We will sweat empathy
for who is and who is gone.

We will miss the old man
that asked for a peso in the market,
that we did not know his name
and was always by your side.

And maybe the poor old man
It was your God in disguise.
You never asked the name
because you were in a hurry.

And everything will be a miracle
And everything will be a legacy
And life will be respected,
The life that we have earned

When the storm passes
I ask God, saddened,
that you give us better,
as you had dreamed of us.

A good advent dream.

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