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October 25, 2017

Disarming Beauty

By Hunter Esters (SFS'19)

On Sunday, October 15 Father Julián Carrón, president of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, and Archbishop Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the United States of America, came together for a conversation on the message of Disarming Beauty—Carrón’s most recent work—and the mission of Pope Francis. What followed was a passionate and powerful reflection on the goals of Pope Francis and the change he is inspiring in the world.

The central message of Disarming Beauty is a powerful call to respond to the issues of the world today not with fear or anxiety, but rather from a place of hope and joy inspired by our personal encounter with Christ. Late in the conversation, an audience member rightly asked about the meaning of the title itself. Fr. Carrón explained that the beauty he refers to is the immeasurable one that is inspired by the truth of Christianity, which he says is the greatest tool to communicate our faith. He stated that the beauty itself is so overwhelming that no other defense of the faith is needed, and that this is the “disarming” aspect he references.

Initiative Director John Carr invited Archbishop Pierre into the conversation as well, citing him as a “diplomat with a pastor’s heart.” The archbishop admitted how inspiring he found this book to be and proceeded to engage the lessons, which Fr. Carrón had offered, with the work of Pope Francis. Pierre cited the power of the book as stemming from the willingness to engage in the issues of the world, as does, he says, the power of Pope Francis’ mission. The archbishop admitted that the willingness to dive into real problems sometimes begets criticism of the Pope, but he pushed back on these critics. Clearly and succinctly, the archbishop stated that “if you don’t think Francis is the cure, you don’t grasp the disease.” With this, he noted that Francis inspires us to bring the beautiful truth of Christ to all people, and that “if we don’t help people have a personal encounter with Christ, we fail.”

The book, and the conversation which followed on the intersection of Disarming Beauty with the mission laid forth by Pope Francis, offers hope in what seems to be a world very much lacking it. As Carr noted, the book “embraces the art and culture in a way that is unusual, but it does not embrace the culture wars.” The book does an incredible job of touching upon the real issues of today in a manner that is altogether loving. Fr. Carrón’s work propels the beauty to be found in the truth of Christ, and as Archbishop Pierre reminded us, it is this beauty and this truth that lay the foundation for the mission of Pope Francis.

Hunter Estes is a junior in the Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS'19) studying international politics.