Not being against anyone

Our charity is not exhausted even then. We must also get along with those who are opposed to Christ, since otherwise we could not help them by enabling them to come to know him. Don’t, however, let yourselves be fooled by false apostolic tactics, for you will encounter people who are blinded even by the very ideal of winning souls. On the pretext of seeking the lost sheep, they end up falling into the quicksands of the very error they are trying to combat, deceived by imprudent tolerance, compromises, or concessions.

Doing good to everyone, including those who hate Christ

We want to do good to everyone, to those who love Jesus Christ and to those who may hate him. But these latter make us feel very sorry, and so we must try to treat them with affection and help them to find the faith, drowning evil, as I say, in an abundance of good. We should never see anyone as an enemy. If they attack the Church in bad faith, our firm, friendly, upright behaviour will be the only means they have, with God’s grace, to discover the truth or at least respect it.

Being understanding towards everyone

If their attacks are based on ignorance, then our doctrine, confirmed by example, may be what makes the veil fall from their eyes. We will always defend the holy rights of the Church, but we will try to do so without wounding or humiliating and will try to avoid causing any resentment or mistrust.

Who are we against? Nobody. I cannot love the devil, but as for all those who are not the devil, no matter how bad they are or appear to be, I wish them well. I don’t feel, nor have I ever felt, that I am against anyone. I reject ideas against Christ’s teaching or morals, but at the same time I have the duty to welcome, with Christ’s charity, anyone who holds such views.

Often their errors are the result of being badly formed. In plenty of cases, these poor people had no one to teach them the truth. I think that on judgment day many souls will answer God like the paralytic at the pool: Hominem non habeo (John 5:7), I have no one to help me. Or as the labourers who were not working replied to the owner of the vineyard: Nemo nos conduxit (Matt 20:7); no one has hired us; no one asked us to work.

Knowing how to forgive

Though their errors may be blameworthy and their persistence in evil deliberate, at the heart of their lamentable state lies a profound ignorance, which God alone can measure. Remember Christ’s cry on the Cross, finding excuses for those putting him to death: Pater, dimitte illis: non enim sciunt quid faciunt (Luke 23:34), Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Let us follow Christ’s example and never reject anyone. To save one soul we should go as far as the very gates of hell; further, no, for beyond them one cannot love God.