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INTENTION : |
That politicians may always act with honesty, integrity, and love for the truth.
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Politics orders and organises social life. Those who manage it are politicians. They make decisions which regulate relationships between persons and groups who exhibit legitimate but often conflicting interests. They deal with social disputes by democratic dialogue. For that reason, what they do is crucial for everybody. Politicians - men and women - are the people through whom a society channels public debate, makes decisions about its future, and provides itself with legal and administrative institutions.
This month the Holy Father asks us to pray for these people, more specifically for their honesty, integrity and love of truth.
For their honesty, that they may serve the common good, by carrying out their task without discriminating between communities or persons and without seeking privileges for themselves. All this implies a high concept of justice and a considerable degree of personal detachment. This honesty also brings with it an active and effective concern for the poor and excluded, to procure laws which will protect them and offer them real equality of opportunity. It means a living solidarity which goes beyond narrow national boundaries and is called to reach out to immigrants and poor nations.
For their integrity, that they may be examples of virtue in which society can recognise itself, and human models by which it can be inspired. A democracy is not established on a cold legal structure, but on the democratic disposition and habits of its citizens, who should find in their politicians a motivation to act in a principled way. This is the only way to arouse the springs of generosity and energy that every community should put into action when it wants to make progress.
For their love of truth, a truth which should be sought in the depth of reality and in long-term service, overcoming the temptation of the short-term thinking to which electoral aspirations seem to turn. Truth lies beyond petty interests: a love of truth which involves respect for other ways of thinking, sincere search for the good and for harmony, by means of open dialogue and commitment to the consequences of it.
Francisco Alvarez de los Mozos, sj
Secretary to the Father General of the Jesuits for Social Justice and Ecology for the whole Society of Jesus.
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