«Catholics in politics? What counts is being on the street. Faith belongs to everyone, it cannot divide »- Corriere.it

Catholics in politics? But the presence stand on the street. First of all we must be Christians, we cannot think we are because we are involved in politics and we often end up doing it badly!

What impression does it make you feel when the new president of the Chamber Lorenzo Fontana evokes the Pope and St. Thomas in his inauguration address? Or the almost in charge premier Giorgia Meloni forcefully assert that she believes you? Does it reassure you?

There is no doubt that Pope Francis is a reference for many. But the difference in practice. Not so much in what one says, but in what one does. For example the Laudato si ‘ much evoked but unfortunately too little applied.

Cardinal Zuppi chisels the words with a file. He arrives at the Curia, in Bologna, in the late morning, escorted by the driver and secretary Don Sebastiano, caught between a mass celebrated in a suburban parish, an informal greeting to the head of Civil Protection and the race to the airport. Destination Cosenza, where he will visit a seat of the monastic community of Monte Sole. The inevitably rushed life of a street cardinal who is also president of the Italian bishops. And that he tries never to say no to anyone who asks to meet him. These are days of intense debate: on the government that will come, on values, on the role of the Church and, above all, of Catholics in institutions. A thread that holds everything together, even the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the birth of Fr Giussani and the Pope’s appeal to Communion and Liberation not to divide, a movement that in the past often took sides, not without clamor, in the political arena. .

Cardinal Zuppi, what does the Pope mean when he asks CLs to do more, adding not to waste time in conflicts?
It means putting back what we have been called to do and not internal discussions. The charism is a gift and must be spent. It certainly does not mean becoming all the same, but all united. We find ourselves overwhelmed by so many questions concerning the human sphere. Giussani had an extraordinary passion for the human, because he had met the man Jesus. Pope Francis reminded us: Jesus is not a morality, not an intellectual system, not a reference that justifies other choices. But a meeting, free, free, of only love. A love story.

The people of CL strongly applauded Francis when he quoted Carrn. Now the theologian who arrived from Extremadura no longer drives, he resigned and the baton passed to Davide Prosperi. There is evidently a before and an after for CL. When Francis complains of an impoverishment of his presence, what would he concretely want?

The impoverishment of presence is certainly not a specific problem of CL, it concerns all of us when we are self-referential, shy because there is a lack of passion for man, the freedom of encounter, a company that does not close itself off and does not become an occupation force but of testimony. True identity is being full of him and communicating his presence with life.

There are those who argue that to be more present Catholics should take a step forward in politics.

For Pope Francis, the presence of being on the street, meeting and passionate with the joy of the Gospel! Before anything else we must be Christian, otherwise we can stop thinking we are because we do politics and often end up doing it badly! In the encyclical All brothers the pontiff speaks of political love. To this I would also add love that becomes culture. But be careful, these are actions that always start from a Christian life, from a true communion, not virtual and from a charitable one that unites our youngest brothers who are the poor! And then the Catholic must always translate the social doctrine with the necessary mediation and secularism, which is then the common history of all.

How is this secularity exercised?

The Church is not closed in private, not a prisoner of individualism, makes its voice heard because it loves people and lives in history, with the necessary secularity.

Are there non-negotiable values ​​that determine the choice of a candidate by a Catholic?

The question must be posed in different terms. The point is that all the challenges of life occur in the present and require the translation of ethics, the Christian vision, into choices according to needs and opportunities, never giving up one’s own convictions, but finding adequate and possible answers.

Can Catholic values ​​more or less proclaimed or interpreted be divisive?

The faith of all and cannot be divisive. He commits us not to have enemies, to welcome everyone. Of course it doesn’t mean getting along with everyone, but always remembering that my other brother! Faith must be witnessed with life.

What do you expect from the coming government?

We expect it to address issues within a framework of national and supranational interests.

Are you referring to Europe?

To Europe, first of all. But also to the world, starting from Africa.

What about immigration?

We are a country full of resources and capacities: welcome, opening of flows, integration, education, cooperation and finally a management of the phenomenon that leads us out of an idea only of security, which in reality is not guaranteed at all without the rest. I would also talk about the thousands of young people who go abroad because they do not find stability and future here. The challenge is to look for it together.

Cardinal, the presence of practitioners in free fall all over the world. There are projections that speak of Christians reduced to minorities within a few decades. Is the Church still antifragile, capable of surviving everything?

Church history has never been conservative. a moment of difficulty to which we must react. But discovering ourselves weaker can help us discover our strength, the real one, which speaks to people, which gives meaning to life: that of the Gospel, the most exciting and human fact that I know.