Pope’s Mass: Insults can kill

During his daily Mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis offered three pieces of advice to overcome conflict.

POPE FRANCIS

“Three criteria: a criterion of realism; a criterion of coherence, meaning not to kill and not even to insult, because those who insult kill; and a criterion of fraternity rooted in kinship. One cannot talk to the Father if one cannot even speak to one’s brother.”

The Pope added that insult and crime share the same root: hatred. He said that overcoming conflict is not easy, but that Jesus offers these three criteria to deal with them with coherency.

EXCERPT FROM THE POPE’S HOMILY

“First, a criterion of realism: of sane realism. If you have something against another and you cannot fix, look for a [compromise] solution – at least – only [find a way] to get along with your adversary while you’re on the road. It will not be ideal, but a compromise agreement is a good thing. It is realism.”

“In our day, we think that ‘not killing our brother’ means simply not actually murdering him – but no – not killing our brother means not [even] insulting him. The insult comes from the same root of the crime: hatred. If you do not hate, and you would not kill your enemy, your brother, then do not insult him either. Nevertheless, a common habit among us is to seek out things to find insulting. There are [also] those, who, in their hatred, express their hate through insults with great flourish – and that hurts. Scolding, insulting – not – let us be realistic: the criterion of realism; the criterion of coherence. Do not kill, do not insult.”

“Do not talk to the Father without being at peace with your brother. Three criteria: a criterion of realism; a criterion of coherence, meaning not to kill and not even to insult, because those who insult kill; and a criterion of fraternity rooted in kinship. One cannot talk to the Father if one cannot even speak to one’s brother – and this means overcoming the holier-than-thou attitude of the scribes and the Pharisees. This program is not easy, is it? Though, it is the way that Jesus tells us to keep going. Let us ask Him for the grace to move forward in peace among ourselves, with compromises, and always with coherence and in a spirit of fraternity rooted in kinship.”

Rome Reports