00:00Pope Leo 14 concludes his visit to Cordova today, marking an important moment for the local Catholic community.
00:07To discuss the importance of his visit, we are joined by Eduardo Arce, a professor of philosophy
00:14who has been involved with the Salesian Youth Movement for 20 years
00:19and its members of the Society of St. Francis de Sales.
00:23Welcome, Eduardo, to tell us your English from the South.
00:28Hi, thank you. Thank you for having me.
00:31Well, how do you feel about Pope Leo 14's visit to Argentina?
00:38Personally, I feel hopeful and moved by his visit.
00:42For many people in Argentina, the Pope's presence has a very important spiritual meaning.
00:49And for me, it is also an opportunity to stop for a moment and think about how we are living
00:55together.
00:56We often spend so much time discussing our differences, you know, that we forget to ask what we owe to
01:03one another.
01:04I hope this visit encourages us to listen more carefully, especially to people whose voices are usually ignored.
01:14As a teacher, as you said, I also think about the example we give young people.
01:19We cannot ask them to build a better society if we show no concern for the difficulties of others.
01:28Of course, a visit cannot solve our problems on its own, but it can open a conversation and encourage people
01:37to act.
01:38My hope is that something remains after these days, more solidarity, stronger communities and a greater willingness to care for
01:49one another.
01:51And what message do you think the Pope sends when he visits different countries?
01:58I think the first message is very simple. Being present matters.
02:03There is a difference between speaking about people from the distance and going to meet them, listen to them and
02:13share some time with them.
02:15A visit can help people feel recognized, especially when they are going through difficult situations.
02:22It can tell them that their suffering matters and that they are part of the wider human family.
02:29I also think their visits can create opportunities for dialogue.
02:34People with different beliefs can find common concerns such peace, education, work and the future of their children.
02:43You do not have to be Catholic to take part in those conversations.
02:47For me, that is an important part of the Pope's role.
02:53He can encourage us to look beyond our interests and national borders.
03:01In a world where it is easy to become indifferent, choosing to meet others and listen to them is already
03:09a meaningful gesture.
03:11How do you see Pope Francis' legacy reflected on the Pope's Leo XIV message?
03:20For me, the central part of Francis' legacy is his call to stay close to people who experience poverty, exclusion
03:28and loneliness.
03:30We ask us to pay attention to lives. That society often pushes aside.
03:36My experience in the Silesian education also shapes that way I understand that legacy.
03:42The Silesian tradition inspired by Don Bosco places a special emphasis on accompanying young people, especially those who have fewer
03:51opportunities.
03:52For me, this means being present, listening and building trust.
03:58It also means helping young people to feel that they are valued and they have something to contribute.
04:05I see a connection between this approach and Francis' call for a church that goes out to meet people and
04:12stay close to those who are excluded.
04:14What I value the most is the idea that nobody loses their dignity because they are poor, unemployed, elderly or
04:23unable to meet society's expectation of success.
04:28Every person deserves care and respect.
04:31I see a connection with that legacy on Pope's Leo's concern for human dignity and the lives of working people.
04:40As an Argentine, I also find it meaningful to think about Francis' legacy through the visit of his successor.
04:48At the same time, Pope's Leo has his own voice and his own responsibilities.
04:53I think it is important to give him space to develop them.
04:59Yesterday, the Pope spoke about land, housing and work.
05:03Why do you think these issues are so important?
05:08I really think that it is important because they are about the basic condition of a dignified life.
05:16A safe home and decent work give people stability.
05:21They allow families to make camps and young people to imagine an independent future.
05:26As a teacher, I see a clear connection with education.
05:29How can we expect a student to concentrate if they are worried about whether there will be enough food at
05:36home, for example?
05:37For me, social justice means taking those conditions seriously.
05:41It means recognizing that freedom requires real opportunities and that we have responsibility towards one another.
05:50My studies have also helped me think more carefully about public policies.
05:55When we talk about the government budget, for example, we are also talking about priorities.
06:02What receives support, who needs are recognized, and what kind of society we want to build.
06:09Yeah, and how do you think his message is being received socially and also politically in Argentina?
06:18I think people interpret his message through their own experiences and political views.
06:25Some way feel encouraged by it, while others may feel uncomfortable.
06:30I would avoid assuming that the whole country reacts at the same way.
06:35Personally, I welcome a message that places human dignity and social justice at the center of the public discussion.
06:44It invites us to ask difficult questions about society we are building.
06:50I also think it challenges the national government to explain how its priorities serve the common good.
06:55For me, a government should be judged partly by how it treats people who have the least power and the
07:04fewest resources and opportunities.
07:08I would strongly question any idea that presents social justice as a problem or suggests that people should face hardship
07:15entirely on their own.
07:17My criticism is political, but it's also ethical.
07:21What kind of freedom are we defending if people have no real choices?
07:26I want a country where personal effort is supported by rights, opportunities and solidarity.
07:35Well, Eduardo, thank you very much for being here with us in front of the south.
07:42Thank you for the invitation and I hope this visit encourages us to listen one another.
07:48Thank you very much.
07:49Thank you very much.
