On October 3 in Assisi, Italy, Pope Francis signed his most recent papal encyclical, Fratelli Tutti (On Fraternity and Social Friendship). He is shown in the photo above signing the encyclical at the tomb of Saint Francis of Assisi. The encyclical was addressed to “all people of good will” and released on October 4, the feast of Saint Francis.
The Pope’s powerful message is one we all need to hear and contemplate. Our world is experiencing great fragmentation, and divisiveness and discord are rampant. The young people in our care—whether in our classrooms or homes—cannot help but be aware of and affected by the current climate. The Gospel Weeklies editors have combed through the encyclical for statements especially relevant for catechists and teachers. We’ve also added some reflection questions for you. You’ll find this resource here.
Here are links to a few more resources to help you get a feel for the message of the encyclical:
• Infographics from the Vatican
• Short Summary from Vatican News
• Long Summary from Vatican News
• New Resources from Twenty-Third Publications
Image credit: VaticanMedia-Foto/CPP/CIRIC
