Below is the contribution to discussion made by Rev’d Canon Nigel Pope at the Religious Faith & Social Justice Gathering for Solidarity …
As we engage in this conversation about religious faith and social justice, it is crucial to recognize that, in the Judeo-Christian tradition, faith and justice are deeply intertwined. Faith is not merely a set of beliefs or rituals, but a call to action that cannot be separated from the pursuit of justice in the world. This tradition (Judeo-Christian ) compels us to stand with the marginalized, the poor, and the oppressed.
Even though the event flyer refers to Gustavo Gutiérrez, I want to also reflect on Pope Francis—not only because of his theological affinity with Gutiérrez, but because of Francis’s unique and prophetic impact on the global conversation about faith and justice, both within and beyond the Church. As the first pope from the Global South and a Jesuit pastor formed in Latin American liberation theology, Francis has become, more so since his death, a moral voice in our world—challenging economic and social inequality, ecological devastation, and the complacency of the Church in the face of suffering.
Pope Francis is a man of deep religious faith, and yet he has lived out that faith in what we might call the space of social justice. Rooted in the heart of the Church, he nonetheless challenges its inauthentic expressions, especially when it becomes too aligned with power, wealth, or the so-called prosperity gospel. Like the prophets of old, Francis calls the Church not to withdraw into comfort or ritual, but to become a “field hospital”—a place of healing, welcome, and courageous action.
So, how does the life and teachings of Pope Francis and Gustavo Gutiérrez—two significant figures of faith—embody this inseparable connection between faith and justice? Both were men of profound religious conviction who lived their faith publicly and prophetically, offering a vision for the Church that challenging it to become a place of solidarity and justice. Through their witness, we see how religious faith, when authentically lived out, cannot help but lead to a commitment to justice, particularly in standing with the marginalized and oppressed.
1. God’s Preferential Option for the Poor
At the heart of Gustavo Gutiérrez’s liberation theology is the concept of the preferential option for the poor. This idea challenges the social order that prioritizes the rich and powerful while neglecting the needs and dignity of the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed. In his view, God’s love is particularly directed toward those who are vulnerable—those who suffer from systemic injustice and exploitation.
This concept is deeply rooted in the Scriptures. In the Hebrew Bible, God consistently sides with the poor and oppressed: the widow, the orphan, and the stranger are figures God calls His people to protect and care for (Deuteronomy 10:18). The Prophet Isaiah envisions a time when justice will prevail, and the poor will no longer suffer (Isaiah 11:4). God’s justice is restorative, aiming to dismantle structures of oppression and lift those who have been cast aside.
For Gutiérrez, the Church’s role is clear: to stand with the poor, not as an act of charity, but as a radical choice to side with those on the margins in order to challenge the systems that perpetuate their suffering. This means recognizing that social justice is not an optional aspect of faith—it is essential to the Gospel.
2. Jesus Among the Margins
Jesus Himself embodies this radical choice. His ministry was not conducted in the halls of power or in places of comfort. Instead, He chose to dwell among the margins of society. Jesus ate with sinners, healed the sick, and comforted the grieving. He reached out to the outcasts of society—the tax collectors, the lepers, the Samaritans—and in doing so, He demonstrated that the Kingdom of God is for all, especially those whom the world has discarded (Luke 19:10, Matthew 9:12-13).
Pope Francis, in his papacy, echoed this vision by calling the Church a “field hospital”—a place of healing for the wounded and broken. His message is that the Church must go beyond words of comfort and reach into the world’s suffering, offering not just spiritual care but tangible solidarity. In this way, the Church reflects the love of Christ—not just by preaching it, but by living it in radical ways.
This is a call for the Church to become a community of action, where faith leads to concrete steps toward justice and healing. It’s a challenge to the modern Church to move beyond the self-referential and engage actively with the world’s pain, just as Jesus did during His ministry.
3. Economic Justice and Jubilee
The biblical tradition of Jubilee (Leviticus 25) offers a powerful vision of justice—a vision of radical economic equality. Every fifty years, all debts were forgiven, land was returned to its rightful owners, and people were freed from bondage. This practice was designed to prevent the accumulation of wealth and power in the hands of a few, and to ensure that everyone had a fair share of the resources God had provided.
Gutiérrez and Pope Francis both advocated for a modern-day Jubilee, where economic systems are reimagined to reflect the values of justice and equality. It is not just about charity; it’s about addressing the root causes of poverty and creating systems that allow for fair distribution of wealth and opportunity for all. Pope Francis called for a global economy that serves the common good rather than a few elites, and he challenges us to confront economic systems that perpetuate inequality—whether through exploitative labor practices, environmental degradation, or unjust financial systems.
4. Radical Welcome at God’s Table
One of the central themes of Pope Francis’s papacy was the radical welcome extended by the Church to all people—particularly those who have been marginalized by society. As a eucharistic community, the church is called to celebrate God’s all-inclusive, all-embracing love, where all people are invited to the table, regardless of their past, their status, or their identity.
Jesus’s ministry consistently broke down barriers, inviting sinners, outcasts, and the marginalized to sit at His table (Luke 14:12-14). Pope Francis’s call for a radically inclusive Church is not just about hospitality in the traditional sense—it is about challenging the divisions that separate people and creating communities of belonging.
This is not an abstract concept; it is about how we, as individuals and communities, welcome others into the fullness of God’s love, especially those whom society has cast aside. We are called to reflect God’s inclusive love in our actions, our words, and our communities.
6. Empowered by the Margins
Finally, both Gutiérrez and Francis emphasize that the poor are not just the recipients of charity; they are agents of transformation. God is at work in the lives of the marginalized, and it is often from the margins that we learn the deepest lessons about faith, resilience, and justice. The Church must listen to the voices of the oppressed, for it is through them that God’s transformative power is revealed.
Pope Francis’s call for a “poor Church for the poor” challenges us to rethink the role of the marginalized—not as people to be helped but as people who have much to teach the Church about what it means to be truly human and to live out God’s Kingdom.
These themes—God’s preferential option for the poor, Jesus among the margins, the Church as a field hospital, economic justice, radical welcome at God’s table, and empowerment by the margins—highlight how faith and justice cannot be separated.
Gustavo Gutiérrez and Pope Francis show us that true faith leads to a commitment to justice, especially for the poor and oppressed. Their prophetic voices remind us that the call to social justice is not just a side issue; it is at the heart of the Gospel.
This conversation is not a defense of the Church or faith in the conventional sense—rather, it is a challenge to both the Church and society. We are called to live out faith in a way that actively engages with the brokenness of the world and works toward justice and transformation where “the wolf shall live with the lamb… and a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11.6-8) and “justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos :24).
Nigel Pope
01.05.2025
