The Challenge of Fratelli Tutti to the Indian Context

Fratelli Tutti offers specific challenges to the Indian context. This article limits itself to church’s relation to other religions in the light of the Encyclical’s invitation to, ‘fraternity and social friendship.’ The Pope reminds the church that its service is not one of waging a war of words aimed at imposing doctrines; but simply spreading the love of God. In as much as fraternity and social friendship has a universal scope, it is open to the followers of every religion as well. It is an invitation “to dialogue among all people of good will”. The vision of creating “a single human family” cannot be left to any one religion, but requires the collaboration of all, as fellow pilgrims. To live by the call of Fratelli Tutti, one needs to have a prophetic imagination that can hold together God’s values and the existing reality, always reducing the gap between the two. This calls for enriching dialogue among religions and cultures