Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State inaugurated a 2-day “Centesimus Annus Foundation” meeting as it marks its 30th anniversary. The focus of the meeting is the culture of encounter and the need to give voice to all for the common good.
“In a world dominated by uncertainty, which seeks refuge by withdrawing into the sphere of the private and thus paying no attention to others, (…) more than ever we must make an effort to read and respond to the signs of the times,” said Cardinal Pietro Parolin noting that the temptation to withdraw is a risk that even politicians may run.
They too, he added, can be driven to focus on circumscribed private interests rather than on an effort geared towards the vision of a broad common good. “Not to do so leads to approaches that are not inspired by subsidiarity, that is, by concern for those far away, as generally happens in those decisions defined as ‘global’,” he said.
And yet, Parolin continued, there are two factors that can point towards greater cohesion and integration, on which the Pope insists a great deal: “social friendship” and the “culture of encounter”.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin centered his speech at the opening of the two-day meeting organized by the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation for the 30th anniversary of its foundation on these two values that are dear to Pope Francis.