The reason for a centralized body is to encourage some Friars to go beyond "acts of charity" in such a way so as to be able to get at the roots and causes of structural injustice and poverty. It is meant to especially bolster the teaching of the Church's Social Doctrine on family, and the human person with particular attention to the critical examination of "other cultural facets that might be helpful in starting a dialogue to offer a Christian response" (CCGG 96:1).
Problems like the violation of human rights, unjust economical politics, political and economic emigration of refugees, devastation by hunger and illness in various countries, structural oppression in many societies, racism, torture, etc. are presently the concerns and working environment of the Office in Rome and, with the decision of the General Definitory, in an ever more active manner in the Provinces and Conferences. The Office has collaborated with the Vatican delegation at the UN in Geneva and, today, is with them in Brussels. It has worked on a vast scale with numerous governments and their embassies, with other pacifist groups and humanitarian organizations. It has begun various international initiatives, it has participated in worldwide Conferences and Summits on themes regarding this area and has taken part in preparing some ecumenical encounters as well.
Presently, the work has mushroomed in all the Conferences and in single Provinces. The Office is capable of establishing the necessary contacts or proposing public attention onto particular situations, as it did when the violence began in Bosnia and more recently is doing by denouncing the violation of human rights in Latin America.
Furthermore, the Integrity of Creation and Environmental Justice issues are being rediscovered as essential. This renewed interest in creation, which regards "the destination and ratification of unjust distribution of the costs of ecological damage and of equal access to ecological benefits"(Developing Ideas, May-June 1996) is considered to be very close to Franciscan Spirituality. Franciscan Spirituality has at its center an integral vision of the universe, in the dignity of the earth and the value of every single creature. It refuses to see the human person and the natural world as capital to be used or as a simple resource for the economic growth of the individual, national or international.
Lately the JPIC International Council has expressed its concern that the conscientiousization of justice, peace and the integrity of Creation be an integral part of all the formation programs of the Order. To this end, a manual is being worked on which will be a useful instrument for those who work in this area and who intend to deepen their initial and on-going formation in this topic. Based on the description of Franciscan life in the Constitutions of the Order, every chapter will deal briefly with a specific topic from a Franciscan perspective and will be completed with personal testimony. The final text will be given to the Conferences which need to make a translation into their respective languages and for the addition of material dealing with problems specific to their region and culture.
Beside the objectives already cited, this work looks to be an instrument, whose novelty is born of the new challenges of our times. It does so in the context of the specific apostolate of evangelization, parochial ministry and the ministry of education so as to take the message of the Good News to all people, that they might respond like Francis to God's incarnation and thus become actively involved in the construction of God's Reign
