In this third article of the series, Bond, Freedom, and Human Maturity, we begin with a splendid quotation. It comes from the work of Leonardo Polo, which frames the theme of inner freedom beautifully as the root of both bond and commitment:
“If intimacy is what is most radical, freedom is not only concerned with one’s own actions, but is also the capacity to encounter another who is also a person. (…). Freedom is respect for the other, who, if not free in their own turn, radically disappoints it.”[1]
Beyond Choosing Between Options
When we talk about freedom, we usually think of the possibility of choosing—that is, opting between paths, deciding what to do, or selecting an alternative. However, while this deliberative dimension of freedom is real and important, it does not exhaust who we are. In fact, inner freedom is much more radical. We are standing before nothing less than the capacity to orient our life as a gift, to open ourselves to the other, and to commit ourselves in depth.
Freedom as Openness to Bond and Commitment
According to the thought of Leonardo Polo, the person is not reduced to their external acts. In their deepest intimacy, every human being is free in an original way. In other words, not simply because they can choose, but because they are called to give themselves. This inner freedom does not depend on external circumstances or biographical limitations. Moreover, even in the midst of illness, loss, or pain, the person retains the possibility of loving, of surrendering themselves, and of saying a “yes” that orients their existence.
The Encounter with Another Free Person
The radical freedom of every human being unfolds in the encounter. Only a free person can recognize another as free, and from that recognition, the bond is born. We are not talking about superficial, utilitarian, or fleeting relationships, but about an encounter that respects the intimacy and dignity of the other. Where two freedoms recognize and give to each other, the space for true friendship, marital love, and community emerges.
Commitment as the Fullness of Freedom
Far from being a burden or a shackle, commitment is the highest expression of freedom. When we say “yes”—in marriage, in consecrated life, or in devotion to a just cause—we are not renouncing our freedom; we are exercising it at its deepest level. Commitment does not restrict; it configures. It turns us into people who live with meaning, who know they are responsible for and with another, and who find in fidelity a path toward maturation.
Ultimately, inner freedom is the root of authentic encounter and lasting commitment. It is not enough to be able to choose: we need to discover that we are capable of giving ourselves. Only then does freedom reach its fullness: in the love that surrenders, in the commitment that endures, and in the bonds that humanize our lives.
Graciela Soriano
Notes: [1] POLO, L., Introduction to Philosophy, in Collected Works, Series A, vol. XII, Eunsa, Pamplona, 2015, p. 229.
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