May 14: What Happens to Pope Francis Global Educational Pact?

“May 14”, according to Office Holiday,  could be:

1. The International Corona Virus Holiday
2. The Royal Birthday of His Majesty  Preah Bat Samdech Preah Baromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of the Kingdom of Cambodia
3. The Martyrdom of Imam Ali in Iran
4. The National Unification Day in Liberia
5. Kamuzu Day: Birthday of the first president of Malawi, Kamuzu Banda Or;
6. The Independence Day in Paraguay

All of these events would have resulted to a host of parties, get-together,  conferences etc. amongst the inhabitants of the territory concerned. But COVID-19 and social distance policies across the world will definitely hinder such arrangements.

Nevertheless, a significant event slated to hold on May 14 2020 was not made mention of in the above calendar event list.

GLOBAL IMPACT ON EDUCATION

On the 12th of September 2019, an address was release on the official Vatican website of the Pope endorsing a global event on May 14, 2020 at the Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican. The theme of the event he said is “Reinventing the Global Compact on Education”.

Quoting an old African Proverb, “It takes village to raise a child”, Pope Francis emphasized on the need to prepare a solid foundation for education to be effective when he said ” But we must build this village as a condition to educate. The land must be cleared from discrimination with the dissemination of fraternity must be allowed to flourish”.

This meeting  He said in his address, will rekindle our dedication for and with young people, renewing our passion for a more open and inclusive education, including patient listening, constructive dialogue and better mutual understanding. Never before has there been such need to unite our efforts in a broad educational alliance, to form mature individuals capable of overcoming division and antagonism, and to restore the fabric of relationships for the sake of a more fraternal humanity.

Since the release of the address in September  2019, various religious groups and individuals have condemned the event. The criticism on the proposal is huge from Christians and Non-Christians alike, even before its birth.

Pope Francis wrote: “In this kind of village it is easier to find global agreement about an education that integrates and respects all aspects of the person, uniting studies and everyday life, teachers, students and their families, and civil society in its intellectual, scientific, artistic, athletic, political, business and charitable dimensions. An alliance, in other words, between the earth’s inhabitants and our “common home”, which we are bound to care for and respect. An alliance that generates peace, justice and hospitality among all peoples of the human family, as well as dialogue between religions“. (This is where controversy lies as no two religion wants to co-exist).

Questions are :

shouldn’t we wait to see the birth of the alliance before condemning its existence? Isn’t it possible to accept the scientific, artistic, political, business, and charitable aspect of the alliance and disregard the religious aspect, since it is too much to accept? Considering the global challenge (COVID-19 outbreak) we are facing at the moment, isn’t this what we need?

Just the writers thought…

Will Pope Francis postpone the event considering the social distance policy adopted by the Governments of the nations of the world or will he rather make it a WEBINAR?

Drop your thoughts on the comments section below…

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