«The statement taken from Paul VI for which politics is the highest form of charity, opens the way to think that through politics the path of holiness can also be followed. A statement that might seem out of time and history, but it is not because those who live politics well as a form of charity makes – and make God experience ». Cardinal Baldo Reina, Vicar of Rome, in view of the conference organized in Rome for September 29th by Movement for Vita, Association of Friends of Carlo Casini, Christian Pakistani in Italy and Shahbaz Bhatti Mission on the theme “The politics via to holiness” reflects on the art of governance and on the construction of the common good. He does it with his feet on the ground remembering that “we move on an extremely complex ground, because then politics is also made of agreements, compromises, mediations. But we had bright examples of how you can really act for the good of all ».
Who do you think?
«Among the Christians engaged in politics I think, in particular, of Alcide De Gasperi, who has lived in an exemplary way the political experience leaving a trace of holiness. For this we have started the cause of canonization at the diocesan level. Now we have transmitted it to the Dicastery of the causes of the saints ».
Today, however, we witness more a policy made of clashes, of words that tickle the lowest instincts. How do you recover the true sense of politics?
«I think we need to return to the values that inspired the most beautiful pages of Italian and European politics. On the part of many there is a need to return to the social thought of the Church through a training work, a widespread pedagogical work to be made to those who want to draw on this heritage. Of course, it is not enough to speak of the social doctrine of the Church, then you have to inspire those values and try to put them into practice in the concrete choices of every day. I see an Italian policy that sometimes appears screamed. I also put myself in the role of politicians and I understand that theirs is not always an easy position. But we cannot exempt ourselves from a training aspect that is fundamental, because the values cannot be simply proclaimed, but must be embraced and shared and then finally put into practice ».
How much memory is needed to prevent certain values from being used in disproportionate. Do I think, for example, of the Sturzian words “free and strong” used in certain rallies?
«Memory and respect for memory is needed. It is no coincidence that in this conference we will also talk about Carlo Casini who reminds us of the sacredness of life – one of the pillars of the social thought of the Church – and the need to defend it. It is important to talk about this sacredness at a time when we witness the fact that too many lives are trampled on, and not only for war, but also for wicked choices. Baths, on the other hand, reminds us of the defense of minorities and those who think differently. They are two extremely current figures for our political and cultural context ».
Baths, minister for religious minorities, murdered in Pakistan in 2011, also reminds us of Martyrdom.
«An absolutely bright example. These figures who did not sell off the ideals in which they believed, but have fought for them until they gave life have made the world better and more liveable. I think it is important to make these people known to the new generations. Because we need models. Ours is called a society without fathers and is profoundly true. And then having models, in political life as well as in other areas, is of fundamental importance ».
Remaining on the martyrdom. The day for new martyrs has recently been celebrated. Among the Italians there is also Aldo Moro, one of the fathers of our constitution of fundamental importance. With him we remember Dossetti, La Pira. An important season.
«They are precious reference figures. And not only for Italy. La Pira, in particular, allows us to get out of our borders. They are people who have had a dream. Even the dream of a Europe that came out of the wars and that could welcome the possibility of a different model. And that dream made him come true. They looked like visionaries, but they managed to leave a trail on which many others walked. Today we witness the weakness of Europe, we see the fragility from a common defense point of view, of shared European policy. Returning to these figures means taking up a high vision of politics and Europe again. We must believe it ».
Europe appears weak, as well as the United Nations. But, even with their fragility, they are indispensable, perhaps the last barrier against total deregulation. What can we do to strengthen them?
«We can only invoke their strengthening, then those who live them from the inside must strengthen them. It takes strong leadership, thoughts, thoughts and credibility. We live in times when many balances have skipped, but we cannot absolutely abdicate these organizations that have made the world safe, especially after world conflicts ».
How much can Catholics do in politics today?
«When Pope Leone canonized Pier Giorgio Frassati I reflected on this. Every now and then he also returns to fashion talk about the political unit of Catholics. I said to myself that, to the extent that we have saints like Pier Giorgio Frassati, who also had an experience in the popular party, we can also speak of common commitment in politics. The unit of values is built around the testimony and the testimony means, as in Pier Giorgio, a gift of one’s life for others “.
We had a Catholic ruling class that was the backbone of this country. The schools of political training also contributed to this, such as that, for example, of Father stands. Do we have to go back to investing in this field?
«Absolutely yes. The appearance of the formation has returned overwhelmingly on the synodal path. Christians ask us for training and we have this very precious baggage of the social thought of the Church which unfortunately is not known. At least in the diocese of Rome we are moving. I believe that the times to propose to Christians are mature that the knowledge of this baggage of the social thought of the Church want it. Benedict XVI also said to the Church, the formation of consciences is responsible for. And we can and we must form consciousness through the social thought of the Church. Then well trained people, they will want to have and if they think they have the vocation, they get involved ».
