Alterity and fraternity

a reading of the Fratelli Tutti Encyclical in light of Lévinas’ concept of alterity and its ressonances

Abstract

This article is intended to reflect Pope Francis' Encyclical Letter Fratelli tutti, based on his call to defend universal brotherhood as an element of a better, more just and peaceful world. From this perspective, the title Fratelli tutti – “All Brothers” – evokes a deep reflection on human existence and, at the same time, calls for the rediscovery of the feeling of belonging to the same fraternity. It is in this logic that the Bishop of Rome's great appeal to respect, openness and recognition of the other as a viability of the fraternal proposal emanates. Francisco dreams of and desires a new “art of encounter”, in which it is possible to think of the other “as a face”, recognizing their dignity, freedom and fundamental rights. In this scope, the development of this article is justified from an excursus to the notion of fraternity analyzed under the lens of the alterity principle of Levinas' thought. Thus, this article proposes to read Fratelli tutti, having as hermeneutical key the path of Levinas, which leads to Francisco as a dream of a new humanity anchored in the ethical responsibility of fraternity.