Cardinal Calls Church to Learn Compassion From Outsiders

At an extraordinary gathering of Catholic cardinals, Archbishop Grzegorz Ryś of Poland offered a surprising challenge: the Church should learn compassion from outsiders, just as the priest and Levite learned from the Samaritan in Jesus' famous parable.

Speaking at the Vatican, Cardinal Ryś asked his fellow leaders to reflect on what kind of world they're called to serve. Rather than focusing on abstract trends or statistics, he pointed to the wounded traveler in the Good Samaritan story as a mirror of modern humanity.

Many people today, he explained, carry wounds both visible and hidden. Some have lost their dignity to violence or exploitation, while others bear psychological scars that nobody sees. In an age of constant digital connection, countless people still experience crushing loneliness and indifference from those around them.

The cardinal also noted how the traveler was journeying away from Jerusalem, symbolizing societies increasingly detached from faith. When religion gets misused for political purposes or fades from public life entirely, human dignity suffers the consequences.

But the heart of his message focused on the Samaritan himself. This outsider, considered an enemy by the Jewish people of Jesus' time, becomes the story's true hero and teacher. Cardinal Ryś urged Church leaders to set aside their prejudices and recognize acts of mercy wherever they appear, even outside religious institutions.

The Ripple Effect

The cardinal's vision extends far beyond church walls. By acknowledging that compassion isn't the exclusive domain of Christians, he's opening doors for genuine dialogue between faith communities and secular society. When believers join forces with anyone doing good work, rather than competing or dismissing their efforts, the impact multiplies across communities.

This approach transforms how the Church engages with social workers, humanitarian organizations, and everyday people showing kindness to strangers. It recognizes that God's call to love often appears in unexpected places and unexpected people.

Cardinal Ryś concluded that today's world shows two faces: the wounded person needing help and the surprising stranger who teaches what true life means. In both faces, God continues calling the Church to share hope with a hurting world.