Patriarchal Response of His Beatitude Theodore II
Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa
Athenagoras Human Rights Award
New York Hilton Midtown
Octoer 8, 2022
Your Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America,
Your Eminences and Graces, holy hierarchs, devout Clergymen,
Your Excellences Ambassadors and Senators,
Most honorable Archons,
Ladies and Gentlemen, dignified guests,
Beloved Greek and American brothers and sisters,
I approach this podium full of emotion. Awarding a person is undoubtedly an honor for that person, but I think that this honor also belongs to those who decide on the award. It shows that they have those sensibilities to perceive the surrounding atmosphere, to appreciate events and to honor persons. For these reasons, allow me to dedicate this highly honorable distinction, the "Patriarch Athenagoras" award, to all those who fight day and night for the assertion of all kinds of rights. There are countless people who are wronged and oppressed in various ways. A large number of these people live on the African continent, which is territorially and spiritually identified with our Ancient and Apostolic Patriarchate, the shepherding and steering of which I have had for eighteen consecutive years with the grace of the Triune God and the help of my collaborators in the Lord’s vineyard. I think this award belongs to them, too.
My beloved,
I come from the continent that gave birth and nurtured Nelson Mandela, the South African President equality proponent and pioneer, who made valiant efforts to give the opportunity to his people to enjoy the rights they deserved. My mind wanders with admiration to his figure and anti-Apartheid struggles; he may have passed away in 2013, but his example as a leader is written in indelible letters on the pages of world history. His course was identified with the demand for equality and egalitarianism without discrimination. His compatriots suffered a lot and were deprived of a lot, and he suffered much until the racial inequalities in his country were eliminated. His action was not intended for self-promotion. Situations forced him to rebel, to endure, to cry out until his vindication. For his people he suffered everything, for his people he claimed everything.
But, we shouldn’t really have to look far from here. I mentally accompany Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America of blessed memory, when he participated in the Selma-Alabama march, shaking the hand of Martin Luther King during the "Bloody Sunday" of 1965. This event did not only become a cover of “Life” magazine, but won a forever place in the heart of every anti-racist and progressive person of his time, here in the American continent, which rightfully boasts of democratic and liberal practices, respects the personality of the other, capitalizes on people’s skills, appreciates possibilities and cultivates chances to benefit the other regardless of religious, racial, social, educational origins and differences. Archbishop Iakovos did not implement a religious type of activism, but gave meaning to his pastorate here with actions full of humanity, understanding, protest in favor of oppressed African-Americans and by extension all those who are deprived of the basics due to their external or internal differences.
Undoubtedly, while as a Patriarchate we live and exist in the richest continent in natural resources, we have the poorest people. They are not only deprived of material goods, but also of elementary rights, those which, while for the rest of the world are considered logical and self-evident, are only a dream in Africa. Work, instead of a right to livelihood, easily becomes slavery, with even small children as victims. I deeply regret this reality and am truly saddened when I encounter it on my tours of Africa.
I ask each and every one of you to please do whatever and in whichever way you can so that such situations remain a thing of the past. My spiritual children in many cases do not have the right to be considered as people with value, with gifts, with rights but only as productive machines. Tolerance cannot and should not be perceived by the civilized West as acceptance and capitulation, not even as a habit. The rights of the people - especially minorities - were confirmed by the Lord Himself with His preaching, with His associations, with His actions. Conciliation with people of the "social fringe" during His space-time was not a random action, but it has its semiotics even in our day. It is a creature's right to know its Maker.
This difficult task has been undertaken by the members of the Missionary ranks in every corner of Africa. Clergy and laity offer themselves day and night in order to enlighten more and more souls. The sun is very warm in our parts, but warmer is the faith of everyone because of what they learn from the Missionaries and what these dare do under adverse conditions. For this reason, I dedicate this award - I repeat - to them as a minimal recompense of what they offer to the Church. May the Lord appreciate their labor and reward their toil.
In closing my speech, I would like to make a clarification. We must, as intelligent people, and to avoid misunderstandings, distinguish between rights and "entitlement". Too often people think only of the rights and never of the obligations that flow from them. They demand the rights and ask for the privileges that serve them, without really deserving them or even being the right ones to manage them. We do not ask for rights just because, but we claim them as a duty that must be characterized by realism, argumentation and sobriety. The rights of one reach as far as the rights of the other; they go hand in hand but do not trample each other! Otherwise, they turn into anarchy and even indecency. It is our sacred obligation as humans and as Christians to ask for what rightfully belongs to us and what suits us.
Assertion is imperative but always clad in distinction. This way it will maintain its relevance and usefulness. Kindness and courtesy also cannot and should not be perceived as weakness and translated into infringement of rights. Silence in the face of this morbid condition is a crime with dire and painful consequences. A lifestyle change is not impossible and the countdown must begin. Marginalization today will bring explosion tomorrow. It's the rule of law. The limits of tolerance are blown away and the powers of endurance are lost. Peoples are informed, people talk, societies communicate. Extremes do not thrive for long and always cause loathing, hatred and revulsion. Constitutionally guaranteed and institutionally protected rights withstand shocks from would-be encroachers and ambitious rulers.
Man throughout history has several times felt that he is a weak, lonely, defenseless being. In order for there to be any form of freedom, rivers of blood were shed, there were conflicts upon conflicts, individuals and peoples fought. The result was not always what was expected. The fact that there are still places around the world where personal or collective rights are violated shows that we have not yet reached the ideal. More efforts are needed toward this end. Recognizing, conceding, exploiting, respecting the rights - especially of the weak – shows love and offers tranquility. Let us hope that our humble words just heard will provoke reflection, suspend fear and banish pain. Please pray that it will be accomplished as soon as possible as I will humbly continue to pray and actually strive hard for it.
I gratefully thank you for your high honor and attention.
Photo: GOARCH/Dimitrios S. Panagos
