Enter the Construction Sites of History

I would like to come back on one sentence in pope Leo's encyclical letter Magnifica Humanitas that inspired me particularly. Remember Nehemia was put forward as being an example of trust in God, patience, responsibility and leadership. He united the Jewish people as a team and rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in six months, which should make him the ideal patron of the project leaders. Being a project leader myself, I tend to become desperate at times, but I realise now what a privilege it is to have this difficult but honourable responsibility.

“In this era of digital transformation, I see in Nehemia a striking parable of our own vocation, which is not to be passive spectators of social and cultural fractures, nor mere commentators on what is crumbling, but men and women prepared to enter the construction sites of history — research laboratories, technology companies, schools, the media, institutions and local communities — in order to rebuild what has collapsed and protect what is threatened.”

In this magnificent paragraph, pope Leo touches on the core problem of our time. All too often, people stand at the more secure side lines of the construction sites and limit themselves to be ‘mere commentators on what is crumbling’ in the social media. This leaves them unsatisfied and unhappy with the society and with themselves. Only by defying the fear to be ridiculed as Christians or as supporters of the common good, we can participate wholeheartedly to the construction sites of our time and by practicing solidarity, make the world a better place.

We need people who stand with both feet in the construction yards of our time: the named research laboratories, technology companies, schools, the media, institutions and local communities. In our complex role, we are called to rebuild what has collapsed and protect what is threatened. If you read the encyclical well, you know this means demonstrating team spirit and solidarity with our fellow human being who may be exploited or lost in the information society. In his own way, Leo XIV encourages us to follow Jesus and to expose ourselves to the world.

I also refer to my blogs 21 Lessons for the 21st Century and The Engineer’s Social Role.

Image by Ri Butov from Pixabay