by Sr. Fides Mbabarempore
As we celebrate the Jubilee of Justice in the Church, it is striking to recognize how Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, founder of the Missionaries of Africa, and Pope Francis share deep apostolic traits. Though separated by centuries, both embody a prophetic response to the needs of their times. Their witness offers us a legacy of justice, compassion, and hope.
I would like to highlight two key points that especially resonate today:
Closeness to the Poor and the Marginalized
Cardinal Lavigerie stood courageously against slavery in Africa. His mission in Algeria opened doors to other regions of the continent, where he proclaimed the Good News with a conviction that Africans, once evangelized, would themselves become apostles. His faith and hope were remarkable, especially in a time when Africans were often dismissed as “uncivilized” and exploited without hesitation.
For Lavigerie, the essential truth was the limitless love of God. He desired that Africans discover this love and recognize their dignity as people created in the image and likeness of God. He believed this awareness would empower them to become missionaries in their own right. He even went further, valuing the role of women in evangelization, affirming that
“despite the zeal of (male) missionaries, their efforts will never bear sufficient fruit unless they are aided by women apostles to the women” (L. 152).
Pope Francis carried this same spirit of closeness. From blessing children, the elderly, and the disabled from his Popemobile, to washing the feet of prisoners, to visiting nations in crisis, he sends a powerful message: God knows you, loves you, and treasures your dignity. His actions echo Lavigerie’s vision of empowerment and inclusion. This is the heritage we celebrate.
Dialogue with People of Different Faiths and Cultures
Cardinal Lavigerie lived what he asked of his missionaries. He embraced his mission to the Arab world and saw himself as father not only to Christians, but to all people. Inspired by St. Paul’s words “to be all things to all” and by the example of Jesuits in Syria, he urged missionaries to eat, dress, and speak like the people they served. For him, breaking down barriers was essential to the Gospel.
Pope Francis continued this vision of dialogue and fraternity. In Fratelli Tutti (“All brothers and sisters”), he reminds us that differences of gender, race, age, religion, or culture should never prevent us from encounter. He consistently denounced the injustices suffered by the poor, by women, and by nations exploited by others. Through his visits and meetings with leaders of other faiths, he showed us that we are indeed children of the same Father—called to love one another without distinction.
Unforgettable Apostles, A Timely Message
As we mark the Jubilee of Justice, the lives of Cardinal Lavigerie and Pope Francis remind us that justice is inseparable from love, dialogue, and the defense of human dignity. Their legacy calls us to be a Church that is truly close to the poor, committed to peace, and open to all peoples and cultures.
This is not only their mission—it is ours today.
