Pope’s solidarity with the jobless ?
(Vatican) Without job there is no dignity – the dignity to bring bread home, which enables one to plan the future and decide to form a family. Pope Francis made the observation in a message to Italy’s national convention on the theme, “Hope amidst Precariousness,” organized by the Italian bishops’ conference in Salerno, Oct. 24-26. The Holy Father noted that in his meeting with person during his Italian visits he has come to touch with his hands the situation of many jobless youth, those on layoff scheme or casual workers. “This is not just an economic problem, but also the problem of dignity,” the Pope said, describing Italy’s economic crisis as ‘the passion of youth”. The culture of waste discards all that is unprofitable, and young people, he said, are discarded because they are without a job. However, the Pope said in this ‘quicksand of precariousness’, the Gospel prevents us from being robbed of hope, because this hope comes from God who became one of us in solidarity with all our precariousness. Pope Francis thus urged Italy’s youth to empower the Gospel in the social and cultural situation in order to foster a culture of encounter and solidarity.