Artikel Open Access CC BY 4.0

Education for the Poor: A Synthetic Analysis of Pope Francis’ Thought

Authors

  • Mateus Mali Universitas Sanata Dharma Indonesia
Article Integrity Crossmark: Check for updates
Article Metrics
2 Article Views 14 PDF Downloads

Abstract

This qualitative study examines the theological foundations of Pope Francis’ vision of education oriented toward the poor and develops their implications for Catholic educational pastoral practice. The study responds to the tendency to discuss educational disadvantage primarily as a policy or charitable issue without sufficiently articulating its theological basis. An interpretive theological review and library-research approach was employed using purposively selected magisterial documents of Pope Francis from 2013-2020 and relevant scholarly literature through 2025. The sources were analyzed through thematic interpretation and theological synthesis, with attention to compassion, mercy, solidarity, human dignity, and the preferential option for the poor. The findings identify three interrelated theological foundations: God as compassionate, Jesus Christ as the center of compassion, and the Church as a house of mercy and solidarity. These foundations support a pastoral framework in which Catholic education is understood as holistic formation and the preferential option for the poor as a theological imperative rather than an optional charitable activity. The synthesis further highlights collaboration among schools, families, the Church, and society as part of this educational responsibility. The study contributes an integrated theological-pastoral framework that can guide Catholic educational institutions in designing inclusive formation that respects the poor as active subjects and partners in shared human development.

References

1
[1] Pope Francis, Laudato Si' [Encyclical letter]. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2015.
2
[2] T. Lolowang, Mujiono, and H. F. Bulahari, “Pelayanan penggembalaan dan implementasinya berdasarkan 1 Petrus 5:1-4,” Jurnal Riset Rumpun Agama dan Filsafat, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 332-343, 2025, doi: 10.55606/jurrafi.v4i1.4641.
3
[3] B. Y. Kebingin, “Menyibak ajaran sosial Gereja Paus Fransiskus di masa pandemi dalam perspektif hidup sosial sebagai rumah,” Jurnal Reinha, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 23-34, 2021, doi: 10.56358/ejr.v12i1.60.
4
[4] A. Daryanto, “Keberpihakan Gereja terhadap kaum miskin yang berkesinambungan dengan karya Yesus dan visi pastoral Paus Fransiskus,” Jurnal Teologi, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 45-62, 2022.
5
[5] E. R. L. Tinambunan, “Kepedulian terhadap kaum miskin sebagai bentuk keberpihakan terhadap martabat manusia melalui persaudaraan,” Jurnal Teologi Kontekstual, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 78-95, 2022.
6
[6] G. J. Pyźlak, “Education of children and young people in Pope Francis' Amoris Laetitia and Laudato Si',” HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, vol. 79, no. 2, Art. no. a8624, 2023, doi: 10.4102/hts.v79i2.8624.
7
[7] S. Kaidah and R. Ruslan, “Dampak Program Indonesia Pintar terhadap pendidikan anak pada keluarga miskin di Desa Lokop Kecamatan Serbajadi Kabupaten Aceh Timur,” Jurnal Geuthèë: Penelitian Multidisiplin, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 312-320, 2022, doi: 10.52626/jg.v5i3.193.
8
[8] Pope Francis, Lumen Fidei [Encyclical letter]. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013.
9
[9] Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium [Apostolic exhortation]. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013.
10
[10] Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia [Post-synodal apostolic exhortation]. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2016.
11
[11] Pope Francis, Christus Vivit [Post-synodal apostolic exhortation]. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2019.
12
[12] Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti [Encyclical letter]. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2020.
13
[13] Pope Francis, Querida Amazonia [Post-synodal apostolic exhortation]. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2020.
14
[14] Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus [Bull of indiction of the Jubilee of Mercy]. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2015.
15
[15] T. Williams, Ed., The Cambridge Companion to Medieval Ethics. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 2019.
16
[16] Pope Francis, The Church of Mercy: A Vision for the Church. Chicago, IL, USA: Loyola Press, 2014.
17
[17] H. Heriyanto, “Eklesiologi Lumen Gentium dan implementasinya dalam misi umat Montfortan Indonesia di Kalimantan Barat,” Jurnal Teologi Praktika, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 65-83, 2022, doi: 10.51465/jtp.v3i1.51.
18
[18] Pope Francis and A. Al-Tayyeb, A Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2019.
19
[19] K. Timpe and C. A. Boyd, Eds., Virtues and Their Vices. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 2014.
20
[20] P. de Beer and F. Koster, Sticking Together or Falling Apart? Solidarity in an Era of Individualization and Globalization. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Amsterdam University Press, 2009.
21
[21] Fifth General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops, Aparecida Concluding Document. Aparecida, Brazil: CELAM, 2007.
22
[22] R. Madden, “Spirituality and religious education: Reflecting on teacher practice,” Pacifica, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 268-283, 2017, doi: 10.1177/1030570X17739651.
23
[23] K. Stevanus and Yulianto, “Misi Gereja dalam realitas sosial Indonesia masa kini,” HARVESTER: Jurnal Teologi dan Kepemimpinan Kristen, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 55-67, 2021, doi: 10.52104/harvester.v6i1.61.
24
[24] R. Jehaut, “Membedah diskursus sinodalitas Paus Fransiskus dan relevansinya terhadap kehidupan menggereja di Indonesia,” Jurnal Ledalero, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 105-120, 2022, doi: 10.31385/jl.v21i1.284.
25
[25] F. Widyawati, M. Y. Dhongo, and M. Chen, “Gerakan ekopastoral dalam semangat Laudato Si' Orang Muda Katolik di Paroki St. Fransiskus Asisi, Keuskupan Labuan Bajo,” Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Katolik, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 213-232, 2025, doi: 10.34150/jpak.v22i1.834.
26
[26] Pope Francis, Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace, 1 January 2014: Fraternity, the Foundation and Pathway to Peace. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013.
27
[27] Pope Francis, Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the Launch of the Global Compact on Education. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2019.
28
[28] Second Vatican Council, Gravissimum Educationis [Declaration on Christian education]. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1965.

Author Biography

Mateus Mali

Universitas Sanata Dharma Indonesia

Faculty of Theology

License

Download Article

Downloads

Article Tools

View Issue