Pope to Brazilian Catholics: Fraternity can heal every division

By Devin Watkins

As the Church marks the start of Lent with Ash Wednesday, the Bishops of Brazil have launched the 60th edition of their annual Fraternity Campaign.

The initiative seeks to raise awareness about the roughly 33 million Brazilians who face food insecurity.

Pope Francis expressed his support for the Fraternity Campaign with a message released on Wednesday.

He thanked the Brazilian Bishops for continuing to promote the 60-year-old campaign, which he said invites everyone to offer tangible aid and spiritual support for people in need of assistance.

Building true universal fraternity

This year’s initiative bears the title “Fraternity and Social Friendship” and the motto “You are all brothers and sisters,” taken from Jesus’ words to His disciples in the Gospel of Matthew.

“As brothers and sisters,” said the Pope, “we are invited to build a true universal fraternity that enhances our life in society and our survival on Earth, our common home, without ever losing sight of Heaven where the Father will welcome us all as His children.”

Pope Francis lamented that our daily experience reveals the many “shadows and signs of selfishness” that are manifested in people who face hunger and poverty.

He therefore invited everyone to extend our love to those whom we struggle to consider as part “of our world of interests.”

Overcoming all divisions

The Pope expressed his hope that the Church in Brazil might reap much fruit throughout its Lenten journey.

“I express my wish,” he said, “that the Fraternity Campaign may once again help individuals and communities of this beloved nation in their process of conversion to the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, overcoming every division, indifference, hate, and violence.”

Pope Francis concluded his message to the faithful of Brazil by entrusting them to the care of Our Lady of Aparecida, the nation’s patron saint, and inviting them to pray for him.