Is there really only one boat?

Editorial Staff

In his famous homily on Good Friday Pope Francis, meditating on the terrible experience that the world is going through, used the phrase “we are all in the same boat”. Then, in a social club, I found a photo that showed some kids from an African village, barefoot and in poor clothing, wearing their makeshift mask made with a rag on their face. As a comment there was the following sentence: “We are not all in the same boat. We are inside the same storm, but in different boats...”. I agree with that but I live with a certain sense of guilt the idea that the Pope should be “corrected”.

Gladys

The words you quote are those pronounced by Pope Francis in the prayer of March 27 th 2020. Actually, as always since the beginning of his Petrine ministry as Bishop of Rome, pope Francis continually reminds us that our humanity is called to rediscover its own radical unity. In these days of pandemic, several times Pope Francis has asked not to forget those who suffer from our own disease, but in a much more painful way. He has also asked lots of times not to forget the other sufferings, such as wars that have lasted for years in certain countries and the hunger that kills more than Covid19 every day. Yes, we are all in the same boat! But perhaps we could also say that we are all called in the only ark like the one Noah built to face the flood. In this ark, whose helmsman is Christ the Lord, we must let everyone go up so that we can truly save ourselves together. I’ve seen the picture you are talking about, too, and I confess that it has made my heart ache and I felt a bit ashamed especially for that smile in the eyes of poor children that is becoming increasingly rare among us who are luckier and better equipped.