- QUESTION :
“We are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people,” said Pope Leo XIV at the Mass of Inauguration of his Petrine Ministry in Saint Peter’s Square on 18 May. Does ‘diversity’ provide an opportunity for growth and enrichment rather than separation and disunity in the Church? – Tom Jose
- ANSWER : Jacob Parappally MSFS
Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural homily on 18 May, delivered in Saint Peter’s Square, resounded with a deeply Christian affirmation grounded in Gospel values and the Christian vocation: “We are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people.” This statement emphasizes the Christian belief that God’s love is both personal and universal, radically inclusive, embracing every individual. It affirms a foundational tenet of the Christian faith: that God is an Absolute Communion of three distinct Divine Persons, united in one essence. All diversity in the world, and its potential for unity, finds its origin and model in the Holy Trinity. The Triune God is the source, the pattern, and the reference point for all human community. This is most fully expressed in the Church, the Body of Christ, which is called to be the sacrament of communion, and thus, the sacrament of unity in diversity.
In a world increasingly marked by division, Pope Leo XIV’s vision carries profound implications for the Church’s life and mission. It invites reflection on a pressing question: Can diversity truly be a source of growth and enrichment rather than a cause of disunity and separation? Who, then, are those threatened by diversity and drawn to uniformity? They are often those who seek to control and dominate others. The innate, God-given desire for unity and communion is too often sacrificed at the altar of imposed uniformity. According to Leonardo Boff, the Holy Spirit is the “originator of differences and the instigator of communion.” True unity wells up from within the human person, as a reflection of the divine image. In contrast, the drive for uniformity tends to arise from external sources, particularly from selfish human interests and from systems or structures designed to maintain power and control.
Unity may sometimes be expressed through shared practices or expressions of faith, but uniformity, when imposed, cannot produce true unity. Unity values and preserves difference; uniformity suppresses and erases it. Pope Leo XIV recognizes that diversity, whether it is social or religious cultures, or in the personal story of each individual. It is not an obstacle to communion but a necessary foundation for it. Diversity, when embraced in love, becomes a gift that strengthens the Church and deepens its witness to Christ and his gospel values.
Diversity: God-made and Human-made
God’s revelation, as experienced, reflected upon, and articulated in the Bible, affirms that everything in the world is created uniquely. God wills diversity, desiring each being to exist in its own distinct way. No creature exists merely for itself, but for others. This truth applies most profoundly to human beings. Though each person is unique and different from others, they are created for communion, with one another and with God their Creator. Human beings, created in the image and likeness of God who is Absolute Communion, are inherently relational. They are different, yet by nature communitarian. To live in communion is both the essential nature and the fundamental vocation of humanity.
Diversity and difference are not meant to cause division or separation; rather, they are necessary for genuine communion. God works only through communion; for God cannot act contrary to God’s own nature.
Humans, endowed with God-given freedom, often misuse and abuse this gift, turning it into selfishness. Rather than growing into their full humanity, they distort their freedom in an attempt to become God on their own terms, seeking power to control others. The story of Babel (Genesis 11) offers the Bible’s first example of humanity’s collective misuse of freedom. In response, God intervenes by scattering them through the introduction of different languages and cultures. This is not only a possible explanation for the emergence of linguistic and cultural diversity but also a profound lesson: when freedom is abused, individually or collectively, to dominate and control, it undermines communion and breeds division. Humans are thus reminded that freedom must be exercised rightly for communion and not for domination. Yet history shows that humans continue to foster division and separation through countless inhuman means, including war. This path leads to the destruction of both human community and humanity itself.
The innate, God-given desire for unity and communion is too often sacrificed at the altar of imposed uniformity. According to Leonardo Boff, the Holy Spirit is the “originator of differences and the instigator of communion.” True unity wells up from within the human person, as a reflection of the divine image. In contrast, the drive for uniformity tends to arise from external sources, particularly from selfish human interests and from systems or structures designed to maintain power and control.
In Jesus Christ, God offers a reversal of this destructive path. In him, all are once again united into one Body, indeed, the Body of Christ, at an objective level. This unity is actualized through the gift of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost (Acts 2), those who received the Holy Spirit were empowered to proclaim the good news of reconciliation, between God and humanity, and among all peoples. Though they spoke in their own language, each person present from different parts of the Mediterranean world understood the message in their own tongue. It was the language of love and communion, transcending ordinary human speech. Far from erasing cultural and linguistic differences, the Holy Spirit affirms and uses them to build up the Church, the Body of Christ. Therefore, there are no walls of separation between Jew and Gentile, male and female, one culture and another. The Spirit transforms diversity into the foundation of communion.
Saint Paul further clarifies this vision in his letters, particularly in 1 Corinthians 12, where he presents the Church as one body with many members. “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?” (12:17) he asks. Paul recognizes and affirms that diversity of gifts, roles, and experiences are essential to the Church’s vitality. Unity is not found in sameness but in communion, mutual belonging, interdependence, and the common purpose of serving Christ and one another.
Church lives Unity, not Uniformity
The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus was, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21). The early Church lived this communion as the Acts of the Apostles narrates, “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:32). When there were some dissentions in the Church, the Fathers of the Church constantly warned the members that it was unbecoming of a disciple of Christ to cause dissentions and divisions. They were called to work for unity and communion.
The post-Vatican II Church has continued to deepen this vision of communion within the Church and all humans of good will. Based on the Trinitarian revelation of communion, Lumen Gentium speaks of the Church as a “people brought together by the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” (LG 4) It affirmed that the Church is called to be a sign and instrument of communion with God and among all people. Similarly, Gaudium et Spes affirms the Church’s solidarity with all humanity, especially through dialogue with different cultures, religions, philosophies and ideologies.
It is a terrible temptation to equate unity with uniformity and to sacrifice unity for the sake of uniformity. Persistent effort to reach uniformity at the expense of unity can lead to conflicts, exclusion and marginalization. When cultural, linguistic, theological, liturgical or personal differences are suppressed in favour of a singular way of being Church, the Body of Christ suffers. Such efforts for uniformity contradict the very nature of God, the Trinity, the Absolute unity in diversity!
Pope Leo XIV’s comment stands firmly within this tradition, echoing the insights of his predecessors such as Pope John Paul II, who declared in Redemptoris Missio that “The Church’s task is described as though it had to proceed in two directions: on the one hand promoting such “values of the kingdom” as peace, justice, freedom, brotherhood, etc,, while on the other hand fostering dialogue between peoples, cultures and religions, so that through a mutual enrichment they might help the world to be renewed and to journey ever closer toward the kingdom” (No.17). Pope Francis has similarly emphasized in Evangelii Gaudium the importance of inculturation and local ecclesial expressions, stating that “unity prevails over conflict,” (No.226) not by denying differences, but by transcending them in love for the sake of communion.
It is a terrible temptation to equate unity with uniformity and to sacrifice unity for the sake of uniformity. Persistent effort to reach uniformity at the expense of unity can lead to conflicts, exclusion and marginalization. When cultural, linguistic, theological, liturgical or personal differences are suppressed in favour of a singular way of being Church, the Body of Christ suffers. Such efforts for uniformity contradict the very nature of God, the Trinity, the Absolute unity in diversity!
According to Pope Leo XIV true communion does not eliminate difference but embraces it, recognizing in the unique story of each person and community a reflection of the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10). Love is the unifying principle that enables this diversity to flourish without fragmenting. It is in the giving and receiving of love that the members of the Church of diverse individual Churches with different liturgical rites emerged in different cultures to become one, not by losing their identity, but by finding it anew in relationship with others.
Unity in Diversity Enriches the Church
The Mirabilia Dei, or the wonder of God, is not only evident in the redemption of the fallen world through Jesus Christ, His Son, but also in the creation of this world, with its innumerable diversities. Such wonder of diversity deserves to be celebrated. However, for some, diversity threatens their self-understanding, as they find it difficult to handle. Uniformity is often seen as easier to manage and control.
In the practical and pastoral life of the Church, diversity presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Cultural, linguistic, theological and liturgical differences can sometimes lead to tension, misunderstanding, or even division. Yet, when approached with humility, respect, and a spirit of listening, these differences become moments of encounter where the Holy Spirit breathes new life into the Church. The synodal process initiated by Pope Francis exemplifies this dynamic, inviting the entire People of God into a discerning journey that honours diverse voices while seeking a shared path of pilgrimage forward.
Pope Leo XIV’s vision challenges the Church to embody a unity that is not threatened by differences but is enriched and made more beautiful because of them. By offering God’s love to everyone in all their diverse situations, the Church manifests its presence and becomes a sacrament of communion.
Pope Leo XIV’s vision challenges the Church to embody a unity that is not threatened by differences but is enriched and made more beautiful because of them. By offering God’s love to everyone in all their diverse situations, the Church manifests its presence and becomes a sacrament of communion. It truly becomes a sign of the Kingdom, where every culture, language, and personal history are honoured and transformed in Christ. Pope Leo XIV reminds us that unity does not mean sameness. He calls all believers, and indeed all human beings of good will, to experience unity and communion rooted in the shared experience of God’s love.
