Vatican City, 21 June 2015 (VIS) –
Pope Francis today began his visit to Turin on the occasion of the
extraordinary exposition of the Turin Shroud and the bicentenary of
the birth of St. John Bosco. He was welcomed at the airport of the
Piedmontese capital by the local religious and civil authorities
following an hour-long flight from Rome, and then went on to meet
with representatives from the world of work in the Piazzetta Reale.
“My visit to Turin begins with you”,
he said to the thousands of people who had been awaiting him in the
square since the early hours of the morning. “First of all, I would
like to express my closeness to the young unemployed, to those in
receipt of unemployment insurance, and those in precarious working
conditions; and also to businesspeople, artisans and all those who
work in various sectors, especially those who struggle to keep
afloat”.
“Work is not necessary only for the
economy, but also for the human person, and for his or her dignity
and citizenship, and also for social inclusion”, emphasised the
Holy Father, noting that Turin has historically been a pole of
attraction for work, but is currently hard-hit by the crisis. “There
is a lack of work and economic and social inequalities have
increased; many people are poor and have problems with housing,
health, education and other basic needs. Immigration increases
competition, but migrants must not be blamed, as they are victims of
iniquity, of this throwaway economy, and of wars. It makes us weep to
see what is happening in these days, in which human beings are
treated like commodities”.
The Pontiff reiterated that we must say
“no” to a series of problems: to the throwaway economy “that
expects us to resign ourselves to the exclusion of those who live in
abject poverty. … Children are excluded, with a birthrate of 0%,
the elderly are excluded, and now the young are excluded, with more
than 40% unemployed. That which is not productive is excluded in a
throwaway fashion”. We must say “no” to the idolatry of money,
“which drives us to enter at all costs among those who, despite the
crisis, become rich without caring about the many who are poor, often
to the point of going hungry”. We must then say “no” to
corruption, which is “so widespread that it seems to be a normal
attitude and form of behaviour. But not merely in words, but also in
actions. 'No' to collusion with the mafia, to fraud, to kickbacks,
and so on”. Finally, “no” to the “iniquity that generates
violence. Don Bosco teaches us that the best method is prevention:
even social conflict can be prevented, and this must be done with
justice”.
The Pope affirmed that, faced with this
situation, “one cannot simply wait for recovery. Work is
fundamental – it is declared from the beginning of the Italian
Constitution – and it is necessary for society as a whole, in all
its components, to collaborate so that there is work for all and that
it is work worthy of man and woman. This requires an economic model
that is not organised on the basis of capital and production but
rather in the service of the common good. And, with regard to women,
their rights must be forcefully protected; for women, who bear the
greater burden in caring for the home, children and the elderly, are
still discriminated against at work too”.
“Today I would like to add my voice
to those of many workers and businesspeople in asking for a 'social
and generational pact'. … Making data and resources available with
a view to working together is a precondition for overcoming the
current difficult situation and for building a new identity suitable
for the times and the needs of the territory. The time has come to
reactivate solidarity between generations, to recover trust between
the young and adults. … And these are the main things I wanted to
say to you. I add one word, which is not intended rhetorically:
courage! This does not mean resignation, but rather, the contrary: be
bold, be creative, be artisans of the future! For this I pray and I
accompany you with my heart”.
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