Blog by Justice Promoter Kelly Litt[/caption]
In late April, the Pope again surprised the world when an unexpected TED Talk was released. According to their website, “TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment, and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages.”
TED Talks are powerful tools to convey critical messages to a global community. In this digital age, these short motivational films have inspired individuals of all ages to become more aware of their environment, to develop leadership skills, and to understand different cultures and ideas.
At 80 years old, the Pope is very much ahead of the curve when it comes to technology and is even active on Twitter with a large following. This TED Talk shows that the Pope sees the value in technology and embraces its ability to be used for good and for the conversion of hearts.
The Pope’s simple yet profound message was more surprising to me than the mere fact that he produced a TED Talk. Pope Francis spoke about solidarity, inclusiveness, and the importance of using power to help others rather than suppress. In his talk, the Pope challenged the audience: “How wonderful would it be if solidarity, this beautiful and, at times, inconvenient word, were not simply reduced to social work, and became, instead, the default attitude in political, economic and scientific choices, as well as in the relationships among individuals, peoples and countries.”
While holding the troubles and difficulties of the world in his heart, Pope Francis left the audience with a song of hope as well as a challenge: “Through the darkness of today’s conflicts, each and every one of us can become a bright candle, a reminder that light will overcome darkness, and never the other way around.”
As we continue working toward peace and justice in our world, this simple yet necessary message from Pope Francis can reignite our flame and fill our hearts with hope so that we can continue working as the Body of Christ. Hope is essential, and as Pope Francis said, “Hope is the virtue of a heart that doesn’t lock itself into darkness, that doesn’t dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see a tomorrow.” Let us all continue seeing a tomorrow filled with peace.
You can watch the full TED Talk here or read the transcript here. 