Dois pilares para o exercício do poder: o perdão e o serviço

Author Cristina Sá de Carvalho explores mercy as a political category in her study, which examines how caring for the fragility of people and nations serves as a foundation for power. The study connects her findings to the views of Cardinal Walter Kasper and Pope Francis regarding the political dimension of mercy.

The study identifies forgiveness and service as the two pillars for exercising power. Forgiveness is described as an essential dimension of mercy that seeks to save relationships and build peace by responding to evil with good. According to the report, Pope Francis views the exercise and acceptance of forgiveness as the starting point for everything necessary for human beings and societies.

Service serves as the second pillar, where love is demonstrated through concrete actions and the sharing of life and goods. The study suggests that authentic service prioritizes the excluded and the disinherited. It notes that wealth and power can benefit the common good if they are used to serve the poor through social justice and charity, rather than creating privilege and arrogance.