The Culture of Exclusion and Its Prevention through Education and Upbringing in the Light of the Teaching of Pope Francis

Abstract

The text presents Pope Francis’ teaching on the culture of exclusion, which in the modern world is not only becoming increasingly visible, but also covers large areas of human action. In his view, the way to counter attitudes of judging and rejecting human beings is to educate and upbringing for a culture of solidarity and caring. He looks at future educational programmes through the prism, necessary for a dignified life, of a culture of mercy. In this way, a kind of re-education of all humanity, which is needed for the world, should take place.

In the presentation of the social problem of creating a culture of exclusion, preventing it through education and upbringing, a qualitative method of describing these issues in the light of available studies will be used. The teaching of Pope Francis, which constitutes the source material of this presentation, will be analysed. Both a hermeneutical and pragmatic interpretation of the texts will allow for a more precise understanding of the papal call addressed to the world to educate for an attitude of openness towards every human person. Encouraging the fight against a culture of rejection and the implementation of a culture of mercy, Pope convinces how the full development of man and society is achieved, and what threatens this process. Only young people, the Pope explains, who are convinced to build interpersonal solidarity, will be able to change the reality around them in the future. Through their choices and decisions, they will transmit to the world the values they have acquired.