High-Level Eventon Multilateralism, Fraternity, and Peace • Presentation of Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Fratelli Tutti |
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The myriad ways Catholics serve our corners of the world and Church is a credit to the beauty and diversity of the gifts given to each of us by the Lord.
Throughout the years, a number of sons and daughters of the Diocese of Madison have taken roles within the Church that serve an international scope.
One such example is Fr. John Putzer, a priest of the diocese, who has served in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 2016 after completing four years of advanced studies in Rome.
What follows is an interview with Father Putzer with both an update on his current role and an enthusiastic invitation to the diocese to participate in an international event with great relevance to the lives of local Catholics.
Thank you so much for taking the time to update the people of the Diocese of Madison about your international adventures!
Thank you, Carolyn; it is truly a pleasure. Although I have been away from Wisconsin for several years now, I am and always will be a priest of the Diocese of Madison, and I think about and pray for Bishop Hying, as well as the priests, seminarians, and faithful of the diocese on a daily basis.
Last summer you received a new assignment. What is your new position?
In my assignment in Kinshasa, I was working at an apostolic nunciature, the Holy Father’s embassies to the countries in which they are located.
From an ecclesial perspective, they’re also a link between the Holy Father and the local Churches, especially the local bishops.
In that capacity, I had a lot to do with maintaining contact and correspondence between the Congolese bishops and dioceses with the Holy Father, a very important and pastoral role.
Here in Geneva, I work at what’s called the Holy See Mission, which is like a nunciature, as they are both official “pontifical representations”, that is institutions that represent the Holy See and the Holy Father in different contexts.
The Holy See Mission in Geneva represents the Holy See at the United Nations (UN) office, as well as at various other international organizations that are based in Geneva.
Where it differs from a nunciature is that there is no contact with the local Church.
There is an apostolic nunciature in Bern, Switzerland, and that nuncio is the liaison between the local Church and the Holy Father.
What we do in Geneva is limited to the Holy See’s relationship and relations to what’s called the multilateral diplomatic scene, including organizations such as the World Health Organization, the International Labor Organization, the International Organization for Migration, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, to name just a few.
This is more on a universal, global scale.
A lot of the issues treated in Geneva — disarmament, peacekeeping, and promotion of human rights — are discussed and debated and will then later be decided in New York at the US headquarters where the General Assembly and Security Council are located.
Why is it important for the Holy See to have a presence within an organization like the United Nations?
Obviously, the Holy See does not share all the priorities and viewpoints of the UN.
Yet the underlying principles of the UN, which are focused on peacebuilding, mutual understanding, dialogue as opposed to war — these are very essential principles not just for the leaders of nations, but certainly for the Catholic Church and the Holy See.
Pope Francis is, in a particular way, interested in interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and that is at the heart of the founding principles of the UN.
Rather than resorting to military combat as a means to resolve problems between nations, the UN was developed with the aim of using consensus and dialogue to resolve our difficulties and differences.
The Holy See is not a member of the UN, but it is a permanent observer.
That position is not accidental.
The Holy See is not obliged to abide by the various resolutions put out by the UN or its subsidiary bodies, but it does have the right to comment on the issues that are being discussed.
It’s really very interesting for me to see how appreciated the position of the Holy See is by various countries, many of whom do not have the same capacity to speak out or to offer the rich moral perspective, with its anthropological and philosophical underpinnings, that the Catholic Church and the Holy see have.
The more the Holy See can be present in these fora, the more the international community can benefit from the values of the Catholic Church.
One great example of the work of the Holy See that demonstrates its effectiveness and its importance is a virtual event we’re organizing a High-Level Event on Fraternity, Multilateralism, and Peace on Thursday, April 15.
You’ve had a key role in preparing for this. What is the event’s goal?
The event is split into two panels focusing on the multilateral scene and interreligious dialogue.
There are various directors general, the top level of their organizations, who will be participating, and Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti (“On Fraternity and Social Friendship”) is a focal point for the event, showing how applicable this text is.
Human fraternity is something that crosses all borders and is inherent to our human nature.
It’s important to illustrate how there are a lot of common interests and common endeavors that the human race undertakes.
What is really spectacular about this event is that we have a concrete opportunity to show how the Holy See and specifically how the words of His Holiness Pope Francis are pertinent to the world today, how they can be helpful even for the international organizations to develop their own agendas with the input of the Catholic Church as well.
It’s also helpful for the Catholic Church to recognize the good that these international organizations do.
It’s a timely conversation to have, taking into account the coronavirus pandemic, which has a tendency to create barriers between peoples, families, cultures, and nations — not through any ill-will but because of the necessary and appropriate restrictions that are placed to protect our health and safety.
It’s been a challenging year for everyone to connect in the same way or at the same level as we have in the past.
For all these reasons, focusing on human fraternity is essential.
Without such an approach, we risk falling into individualism which never solves problems. We need to work together.
Referring to the coronavirus, the Pope wrote in Fratelli Tutti: “we realized that no one is saved alone; we can only be saved together” (n. 32).
What can Catholics here in the Diocese of Madison learn or take away from this event?
Our efforts as a human family to develop communion and community never go without fruit.
The prayer of Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, that all might be one, is an efficacious prayer.
It’s a prayer uttered by Jesus our Savior to the Father, and it does bear fruit.
Each and every one of us is called to realize that prayer in our lives.
What that means for us is that wherever we find ourselves, we have to be a people of communion, to seek bonds where there are divisions.
Especially when we encounter people we don’t understand or with whom we disagree, it’s all the more important to be inspired and strengthened by that prayer of Jesus.
Wherever we find division, we are called to be catalysts of communion.
That doesn’t mean abandoning our beliefs or glossing over differences.
But it does mean we have the confidence in Christ’s prayer and in the power of His love for us so that we are able to, with patience, meet people where they’re at, discuss where we might have differences, and have people come to understand our perspective and the beauty and Truth of the Catholic faith.
That is ultimately the goal of the Holy See’s mission in general and we are all called to participate in this as Catholic Christians.
Thank you so much for your time and for sharing this update with the diocese. I know there are many who continue to keep you and your work in prayer and you are not far in spirit, despite the distance.
Thank you! And if any reading this are interested, do join in watching the High-Level Event which will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 15, and livestreamed on the Holy See Mission Geneva’s YouTube channel.