In a world where faith and politics are at odds, it has been heartening to see the general public embrace a latest pope.
Leo XIV is the primary American pope. Yet he has been claimed as Peruvian within the country where he served as bishop for a few years.
The latest pope’s work with marginalised communities in Peru is clearly etched on his heart. In his first address on the Vatican, he effortlessly switched from Italian to Spanish. From the balcony he welcomed the faithful “from my beloved diocese of Chiclayo in Peru”.
A charity employee said the pontiff was an individual “who would placed on boots and wade through the mud” to assist those most in need. (This was something he literally did in 2022 when torrential rains hit Chiclayo.)
Reading endorsements similar to this to Pope Leo XIV’s character has been an actual encouragement to me. His calls for lasting peace and humanitarian aid in his first Sunday address were such a tonic to the soul. They seemed almost counter-cultural in an increasingly turbulent and divided world. A world where the wealthiest nations are turning away from people ravenous to death.
Tragically the US and the UK have turn into markedly more inward-looking. The two nations have slashed overseas aid. There is a worrying rising anti-immigration rhetoric in each countries. The US Vice-President has even argued a ‘hierarchy of affection’ to justify an anti-immigration stance. JD Vance said that love starts with family before extending it to neighbours. He then said it extends to nation and eventually, very much last and least, to fellow human beings.
Vance, most distressingly, claims this hierarchy is born out of Christian teaching. Yet nothing may very well be farther from the reality. This is politicians telling us the right way to love and never the scriptures.
I’m a Christian and we’re so clearly called within the Bible to like our neighbours. Jesus tells us that this may not be the person living immediately round the corner. In the Good Samaritan story, he makes it abundantly clear that it may very well be someone of a unique culture and race to us. Reaching out to the poor and marginalised is not something exclusive to Christianity either. All the main religions encourage compassion, justice and almsgiving.
In our work across Asia and Africa we team up with faith leaders from all religions. My colleagues train them to recognise the early signs of leprosy which has helped so many.
Faith leaders have deep and trusted relationships with the communities they serve. They are subsequently ideally placed to coach people about leprosy. They are in position to advise someone to see a medical examiner in order that they could be cured. They are prone to be believed after they tell them they not cursed and that they needn’t feel ashamed.
Just to be clear, I’m not denying the incredible work carried out each day by people not following a faith. Acts of kindness, big or small, all the time make the world a greater place. And it goes without saying that my colleagues world wide help people of all faiths and none.
Yet it is usually faith that spurs an individual into doing good works. As Christians we consider all and sundry on this world is created by and deeply loved by God. And as believers we would like to share God’s love with everyone he has made. In fact, what’s faith if it will not be shared by caring for our fellow humans?
Peter Waddup is Chief Executive of The Leprosy Mission.
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