“Revolution of Tenderness”

Twice in his first apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (Joy of the Gospel), Our Holy Father Pope Francis uses this expression (Nos.88 & 288). This strikes me as interesting and significant. Why?

‘Intetresting’ because it calls our, at least mine, attention, especially to the twice repeated use of the two contrarywords, ‘revolution’ and ‘tenderness’, and to the paring of them together. There must be an explanation in the papal exhortation

‘Significant’ because the word ‘revolution’ signifies a radical break from, or replacement of, the usual way of doing things ; and ‘tenderness’ is the new way. They are contrary because revolt is usually violent while tenderness is gentle.

What was the former way of evangelizing which must be replaced? What is new in what the pope is proposing? In terms of content (kerygma) and approach (pastoral) I think there is not much difference. In terms of objects, extent and style of evangelizers, Evangelii Gaudium presents emphatically a new and radical way.

Regarding the objects or recipients of the mission of evangelization and their locations, the poor people who are victims of injustices socially, economically, politically and culturally, the Pope includes not only the poorest of the poor but everyone everywhere especially those in the peripheries, dredges, and outbacks of society where the evangelizing would mean getting ‘dirty’, ‘bruised’ (words from the pope’s public utterances).

In terms of style, Pope Francis characterizes the new evangelization with a “Marian style”. This is the context where I think the word ‘tenderness’ should be understood. This refers to the presence of women and their active participation, but more especially to the evangelizer’s personal relationship with Mary. Pope Francis says that “whenever we look at Mary we come to believe once again in the revolutionary nature of love and tenderness. In her we see that humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong who need not treat others poorly in order to feel important themselves”(no. 288). In the infancy narratives of Luke’s gospel the Pope realizes that Mary praises God for “bringing down the mighty from their thrones” and “sending the rich away empty” (Lk 1:52-53) while she keeps “all these things, pondering them in her heart(Lk 2:19). For this act of justice, he says that Mary is also “the one who brings a homely warmth in the pursuit of justice.” Here he refers to a maternal, feminine, gentle and contemplative approach.

And so he concludes his apostolic exhortation with the following words: “This interplay of justice and tenderness, of contemplation and concern for others, is what makes the ecclesial community look to Mary as a model of evangelization”(no.288)

Her Magnificat then can be considered in this context a Revolutionary and Tender Manifesto.