The first of two Vatican conferences on the family ended on Saturday, Oct. 18. The conference was called at the request of Pope Francis, who met with nearly 200 cardinals, bishops and priests from around the world to discuss how the Catholic Church should approach controversial issues like marriage, contraception, homosexuality, divorce and pre-martial sex.

There is no doubt that these issues will continue to generate heated debate among people, regardless of whether or not they are affiliated with Catholicism.

However, our reason for writing this is not to address any of these issues specifically, but to draw attention to the meaning behind Pope Francis’s action and what it demands of us as members of a Jesuit institution. In order for us to affect any real change, it is important that we do not lack the courage of our convictions.

If we see a problem here on campus or out in the world, we should hold ourselves responsible to make sure that something is being done about it. Sometimes, that may require us to attach our names to an issue we believe in or to discuss things that may be uncomfortable or controversial and likely to cause dispute.

In his address, Pope Francis told his clergymen that they must say whatever they feel compelled to say without fear, but to also listen to each other with humility and an open heart.

Likewise, we must not shy away from drawing attention to issues we think need to be addressed at Loyola, but we must speak with respect for all members of what is clearly a diverse community.

Pope Francis may be speaking and acting within a Catholic mindset, but his intent calls to mind a very specific definition of catholicity: universality and inclusiveness.

We ourselves don’t necessarily have to identify with Catholicism in order to take action against anything that may conflict with an atmosphere of universality and inclusiveness on campus.

As a newspaper, we strive to be the voice and mirror for this school and this community. We want to be the forum through which injustice — if and when it occurs — is brought to public attention and then addressed. But we cannot do this in isolation.

Often we are approached by students wanting issues brought to the attention of our community, but who are too afraid to speak up themselves for fear of judgment or repercussions. This, however, should not be an issue at an institution that commits itself to maintaining an open, inclusive environment.

We have to be willing to openly discuss what can be done to ensure that our school lives up to its Jesuit ideals — and then we must be prepared to act based on those discussions.

Yes, by opening up a discussion, we may run into opposition or discomfort from others. We may even get the immediate impression that we have caused discord within our community.

However, if we choose to remain quiet, we not only choose to endorse injustice — we ultimately choose to divide our community in the long run.