Pope Leo XIV has just published an encyclical, ‘Magnificat Humanitate’, which sets out his vision of the modern world, whilst at the same time bringing the fundamental issues that plague our societies back to the forefront.
In it, he addresses war and peace, scientific progress, artificial intelligence and the ethical questions they raise.
But the reminder that “human dignity is universal” resonates strongly with current events dominated by dictators and autocrats, as well as with ongoing conflicts in which the value of human life seems to count for nothing.
In the cultural challenge posed to them by Trumpists, extremists and their enemies, Europeans should find reasons to strengthen their model.
The treaties that bind them—whether it be the Universal or European Convention on Human Rights, or the Treaty on European Union—all reiterate the values upon which they are founded, namely the centrality of the human person.
The individual is not a commodity, nor a collection of data, and certainly not a statistical element or an adjustment variable for so-called collective public policies.
The individual must be protected from aggression, discrimination and restrictions on their freedom.
Respect for the individual determines whether governments—increasingly tempted to dissolve the irreducible uniqueness of every person into the masses—are democratic or not.
To remind the world of this is truly welcome; it is also a call to action for Europeans.
They are indeed fighting formidable enemies who would have us believe that European rules and standards are in decline, when in fact they remain well ahead of the violence and brutality of destructive forces.
The pride they may feel in this is matched only by the demand placed upon them to constantly improve it.
