Second Introduction reflection: Communion shouldn't be uniformity

[ad_1] Fr. Roberto Pasolini, the Preacher of the Papal Family, delivers his second Introduction meditation to Pope Leo XIV and members of the Roman Curia.

By Isabella Piro

What sort of unity should we bear witness to? And the way can we provide the world a reputable type of communion that isn't merely generic fraternity?

These have been the questions on the coronary heart of the second of three Introduction sermons delivered by Father Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the Papal Family, on Friday morning to Pope Leo XIV and the Roman Curia.

The chosen theme for the three reflections was: “Awaiting and hastening the approaching of the day of God.”

“The Parousia of the Lord. An expectation with out hesitation” is the theme of the primary of three meditations for Christmas, which started this morning, 5 December, within the Paul VI ...

The Tower of Babel Fr. Pasolini structured his reflection round three photos: the Tower of Babel, Pentecost, and the reconstruction of the Temple of Jerusalem.

The primary picture, the Tower of Babel, embodies a humanity which, after the flood, tries to exorcize “the worry of being scattered.” However that challenge hides “a lethal logic,” as a result of it pursues unity “not by the reconciliation of variations, however by way of uniformity.”

Twentieth-century totalitarianism That is the “dream of a world the place nobody is totally different, nobody takes dangers, every little thing is predictable,” Fr. Pasolini noticed, noting that the builders of the tower used not irregular stones however uniform bricks, all equivalent.

The result's unanimity, he mentioned, however one that's solely obvious and illusory, as a result of it's “achieved on the worth of eliminating particular person voices.”

The preacher then turned to think about modern instances, pointing to the totalitarian regimes of the Twentieth century, which imposed “a single-minded ideology,” silencing and persecuting dissent.

But, “each time unity is constructed by suppressing variations,” he warned, “the consequence shouldn't be communion however demise.”

Social media and AI Even right this moment, Fr. Pasolini mentioned, “within the age of social media and synthetic intelligence,” the dangers of homogenization haven't disappeared—certainly, they seem in new varieties: algorithms that create “single-track data bubbles,” predictable patterns lowering human complexity to requirements, and platforms that chase prompt consensus whereas penalizing “reflective dissent.”

The Church, the Capuchin friar added, shouldn't be resistant to this temptation, since usually in historical past the unity of religion has been mistaken for uniformity, to the detriment of “the gradual rhythm of communion, which doesn't worry dialogue and doesn't erase nuances.”

<source media="(min-width: 1024px)" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" data-original-set="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/srv/2025/12/12/2025-12-12-predica-di-avvento/1765534316188.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.1500.844.jpeg 2x, /content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/srv/2025/12/12/2025-12-12-predica-di-avvento/1765534316188.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg 1x"> <source media="(min-width: 768px)" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" data-original-set="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/srv/2025/12/12/2025-12-12-predica-di-avvento/1765534316188.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.1000.563.jpeg 2x, /content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/srv/2025/12/12/2025-12-12-predica-di-avvento/1765534316188.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg 1x"> Pope Leo listens to the Introduction reflection (@VATICAN MEDIA)

Distinction: the grammar of existence A world constructed on the utopia of equivalent copies, Fr. Pasolini continued, “is the antithesis of creation,” as a result of “God creates by separating, distinguishing, differentiating”: gentle from darkness, the waters from the dry land, and day from evening.

On this sense, “distinction is the very grammar of existence,” and rejecting it means reversing “the artistic impulse” searching for a false safety that's in truth “a refusal of freedom.”

The confusion of languages with which God responds to Babel, subsequently, shouldn't be a punishment however “a treatment,” the preacher emphasised. God “restores dignity to particularity,” giving humanity as soon as extra its “most valuable present”: “the opportunity of not all being the identical.”

In spite of everything, “there is no such thing as a communion with out distinction.”

Pentecost Fr. Pasolini’s second picture, Pentecost, thus turns into an emblem of communion with out uniformity. The apostles converse in their very own languages, and the listeners perceive in theirs, as a result of “variety stays, however it doesn't divide.”

Variations aren't eradicated to create unity; they're remodeled “into the material of a broader communion.”

Renewal of the Church Fr. Pasolini then turned to debate his third picture: the Temple of Jerusalem, destroyed and rebuilt a number of instances.

Each reconstruction, he mentioned, “can by no means be a linear course of,” for it's formed by “enthusiasm and tears, new momentum and deep regrets.”

All this serves as “a valuable compendium” for understanding “the perennial necessity of the Church’s renewal,” so effectively embodied by St. Francis of Assisi.

The Church known as to permit herself to be rebuilt many times, in order that “the fantastic thing about the Gospel” might shine by, remaining trustworthy to itself whereas persevering with “to put herself on the service of the world.”