Much of the coverage of Pope Francis' expansive encyclical Fratelli Tutti, focused on its feel-good themes of unity, dialogue and peace. Who can argue against the notion that we are "brothers and sisters all?"

But this document, the pope's third encyclical and clearly a summary of his papacy so far, is no rote call for prayers and best wishes in the face of the pandemic. It is, foundationally, a pointed critique of nationalistic populism, of economic systems that exploit the poor, and indeed, of democracy itself, at least as it seems to be evolving at the beginning of the 21st century.

We agree, and appreciate the pontiff's bold condemnations of neofascist ideas about nation and race, trickle-down economics, unbridled free-market capitalism, income and wealth inequality, and a libertarianism that merely dresses up selfishness for more palatable consumption.

These - along with an excessive individualism and "feverish consumerism" - prevent a "better kind of politics, one truly at the service of the common good," the pope says.