The social week highlighted Francisco’s legacy to build a more fair and fraternal Argentina

With the slogan “social friendship as a dream and path. Francisco’s legacy”, and his eyes in the teachings of the recently deceased Argentine Pope, the 42nd edition of the Social Week was carried out in the city of Mar del Plata, organized by the Episcopal Commission of Social Pastoral.

The meeting lasted three days and brought together more than 500 people from the social, political, union, business, academic and religious fields around different debate axes.

The first day he had the intervention of referents of the different areas. Representing the Church were the bishop of La Rioja and president of the Episcopal Commission of Social Pastoral, Mons. Dante Braida; the host bishop, Mons. Ernesto Giobando; and the Archbishop of Mendoza and president of the Argentine Episcopal Conference, Mons. Marcelo Colombo.

Taking into account the teaching of Pope Francis in the encyclical All brothersthe need for the policy at the service of the people was addressed and to promote leaderships that understand that “the unit is superior to the conflict”, one of the principles set forth in Gospel joy.

Francisco’s legacy, said Mons. Marcelo Colombo, is expressed in people, especially those who were marginalized and today have a voice; and focuses on the poor, privileged by Jesus; and in the care of the common house, home of future generations.

The first day was also the opportunity to reflect on the reality of the peripheries, based on concrete experiences of the most “discarded” sectors.

The second day was marked by reflection on economic challenges, climate and ecological crisis, and the role of technology and artificial intelligence in integral human development.

Within that framework, the conversations “Economy and Labor” were developed, which deepened the need to strengthen work, promote cooperativism and think productive models with their eyes on inclusion and sustainability; “Educational Pact for the Care of the Common House”, which raised the need to build a “national environmentalism” and put education as a engine of change before the question: how to do so that Argentina suffers less?; and “Technology and Integral Human Development” focused on the impact of artificial intelligence, and stated that digital literacy is a citizen right.

Participatory workshops were also held that led to the exchange between the public and the specialists.

At the end of the second day, those present pilgrimage with the image of the Virgin of Luján, carried by an urban recycler car, towards the Cathedral of Mar del Plata, where the thanksgiving Mass was held.

The last day of the social week was the opportunity for the president of the Social Pastoral to share the final reflection entitled “Francisco and La Esperanza”.

Within that framework, he highlighted points of the teaching of the Argentine Pontiff to live hope, and called to identify in everyday life, the realities that need to be transformed into signs of hope.

Dialogue and inclusion: The path of hope

The Social Pastoral Commission developed a final message of the meeting, which highlights the footprint of Pope Francis in the Church and in the world: “His option for the poor, the care of the common house, his call to social fraternity and his commitment to peace question us to continue building a more just society.”

In a context of “deep polarizations” that affect Argentina, bishops called not to be indifferent “given the reality of many brothers in poverty and exclusion.”

“In this social week, inspired by the Gospel we seek to promote the encounter, sharing experiences, reflections and knowledge favoring social dialogue and paths to organize hope,” they summed up, inviting a pastoral conversion: “To first, get involved, accompany, fruit and celebrate.”

They also highlighted the importance of fraternity in dialogue, to go beyond conflicts and look at “the deep dignity of each person, recognizing that the whole is superior to the part.”

“In the poor, the patient, the discarded and nature we listen to the voice of God that moves us and moves us to seek concrete answers,” they recalled, underlining the firm purpose that “politics and economy dialogue at the service of life.”

They also emphasized the lack of work that, in Francisco, “deeply hurts the dignity of people and can lead to discouragement, isolation and loss of meaning”, because “work without rights is not blessing, it is exploitation.”

Finally, they recalled the preferential option for the poor, “fundamental ethical and evangelical demand”, while urging a “critical thinking” and a “brave cultural revolution”, focused on dignity and the common good to achieve “a technological and environmental social justice that reduces damage and deepens benefits for the integration of all.”

Foging the dialogue for “the construction of a project for a fair, fraternal and supportive Argentina,” they longed for “that the wisdom of dialogue, the mercy she welcomes and the joy of hope drives us to get involved and organize ourselves as a society to weave links that make possible a homeland with true social friendship and oriented to the common good.”