His Eminence Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, recently attended an international scientific conference at the Ludovika University of Public Service in Hungary. In our interview, we asked him what we, as university citizens, can personally do for social justice and peace.
Your Eminence, you are giving this interview at the Ludovika, so the question arises: what is your advice for the young people studying here who are preparing for a career in public service? What can they do for future peace?
When I speak to university students, I usually say that answering the question of what you can do for justice or peace cannot be postponed until after you complete your studies. You should not think, “First I will get my diploma, and then I will see what I can do,” nor even, “During my studies, I will plan what I will do.” Instead, even during your university years, it’s good to engage with the world of the poor, the excluded, the marginalized, the invisible, or the rejected—those who do not count. These are, of course, categories which depend on where you are, so I intentionally do not name groups but rather the feelings. My advice to students is to think, today, ”Who are the people who do not count for me, whom I can recognize and identify?” as I mentioned earlier, and to find ways to walk together with them. This not only enriches university studies but also prepares one to answer life’s big questions.
Do you think that if they act this way, the next generation will be able to perform better in social issues than previous ones?
I do not know. I am almost eighty years old, so I would not claim to understand today’s twenty- or thirty-year-olds well. To be honest, I am not sure if these very complex questions can be answered at a generational level since these are primarily existential questions. Perhaps it would be more accurate to ask the question—especially in a country like Hungary with its unique historical background—whether those who are now attending university will deal with social problems and injustices, including environmental protection, more actively and responsibly than their parents or grandparents? Not only Hungary but all Eastern Europe has gone through a tumultuous century, so it is essential to consider the full context. Regarding, for the success of the next generation, the big question is, “How are the various social issues living, pressing questions for a twenty-year-old?” And then we can compare these real concerns with the decisions their parents or grandparents made on similar issues in the past.
The voice of the Church also seems to be fading globally, as it is now just one of many voices in a polarized, global world. Is there a partner who can help amplify the voice of the Church on the international stage again?
This very valid question should also be translated to an existential level before answering—such as the word “polarization.” It is easy to talk about it because there is plenty of evidence, and I do not deny that the phenomenon exists. But when we ask the very concrete question of what we can do for the created world, we cannot answer merely at the level of “polarization.” For we can only look at ourselves. The key, I think, is to ask the question: “What are the polarizing elements in my life?” Or, if we think at the local community level: “What are the polarizing factors in our lives?”—whether it is a circle of friends, those with whom we spend our time, the community in which we live, or the ethnic background from which we come. Polarization must therefore be transformed and translated into very concrete attitudes and behaviours—and these are what we need to work with. These are what we must confront personally.
At the conference, which you honoured with your presence, you also detailed the seven points of the Catholic Church’s social teaching. Do you think this teaching can ever come to fruition? Do you see a real chance for it today?
I see no other chance; we must reach a state where human dignity is the most important. It is simply necessary. The most important factor is that you, I, and those reading this interview recognize, together, that human dignity depends on us to defend and promote. We cannot continue to passively watch, through traditional or social media, what others are saying. At the conference, I told the story of Juan Antonio López. The community leader of the city of Tocoa in northeastern Honduras was shot by an unknown attacker on 14 September 2024, as he left a celebration of the Word in his small Christian community. Juan Antonio López was a member of the Municipal Committee for the Defense of Common and Public Goods of Tocoa, so his work often brought him into conflict with financial interests and local and national politicians. He was one of the leading local figures in the struggle against iron oxide open-pit mining. This industry threatens the water of the Guapinol and San Pedro rivers, which the community relies on for drinking water, fishing, and agricultural needs. Pope Francis also expressed his sorrow over the tragic death of López, a founding member of the integral ecology pastoral care in Honduras and expressed his closeness to those who respond to the cry of the poor and the Earth. Juan Antonio López is simultaneously a local and global martyr in the struggle for integral human development, as the Church teaches. That is why I emphasize that we must find connections and build active relationships with each other as soon as possible. The Church’s social teaching provides guidance on how to connect and what values we need to seek and support. There will be no peace if we are merely spectators or passive victims who blame the authorities, foreign interests, or the powerful for their wrongdoings and say that this is our misfortune. If we do this, everything will naturally remain the same. I therefore think that the key message lies in the word “responsibility” and in the fact that this word is also mine and ours. Being a member of the Church, a believer, is a great help in taking responsibility, recognizing our mistakes, asking for forgiveness, and starting anew. There are other approaches, but I recommend the Church. Everything must start at the local level. And once we have started on the work here, then over time we can look for more partners. So, the people who work together here in Hungary can eventually find their Czech, Austrian, or Polish allies. I think this is the only reliable way to move forward together on this path, rather than only worrying and talking about the global level. A martyr like Juan Antonio Lopez shows us the way, as indeed Jesus Christ does.
Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
Photo credit: Dénes Szilágyi / Ludovika University of Public Service
