VOLUNTARY WORK IS A TESTIMONY OF THE VALUE OF GRATITUDE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 7, 2002 (VIS) - This morning, John Paul II received participants in the 24th plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," who are considering the subject of voluntary work.

The Pope stressed that voluntary work offers society "a testimony of the value of gratitude, ... (which) opposes the individualism that is, unfortunately, so widespread in our societies, especially the richer ones. In the face of economic interests, that not infrequently seem to constitute the dominant category of social relationships, voluntary work seeks to highlight the centrality of man. It is the individual, by his or her nature, who deserves to be served and loved always, especially when thwarted by evil and suffering or when marginalized and scorned."

Believers, he went on, "involved in many fields of humanitarian activity, can become, for non-believers, a real stimulus to experience the profundity of the evangelical message. They demonstrate in a concrete way that man's Redeemer is present in the poor and suffering and wishes to be recognized and loved in each human being.

"In order for this testimony to be incisive, it is my hope that those who work in Catholic volunteer associations and institutions may take as models the many saints of charity who, with their lives, have traced a path of luminous evangelical heroism in the Church. May each individual concern themselves with personally meeting Christ, Who fills with love the hearts of those who wish to serve others."

The Holy Father concluded by thanking "Cor Unum" for the solicitude with which, "on many occasions, at times in painful and tragic contexts, it has acted to deliver the Pope's charity. In particular, I would like to recall the recent generous commitment in helping Afghan refugees and in other regions of the earth struck by war or natural disaster."

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