(ANSA) - VATICAN CITY, JAN 12 - The Pope spoke about work at the general audience and stressed that he does not sufficiently take into account the fact that "it is an essential component in human life", "working not only serves to obtain the right livelihood" . "Unfortunately, however, work is often hostage to social injustice and, rather than being a means of humanization, it becomes an existential periphery".
"What gives you dignity is not bringing bread home" but "earning bread. And if you don't give this chance, this is a social injustice". "The rulers must give everyone - is the appeal of Francis - the possibility of earning bread because this gives dignity".
"In these times of pandemic - continued Pope Francis - many people have lost their jobs, we know, and some, crushed by an unbearable weight, have come to the point of taking their own lives. Today I would like to remember each of them and their families". The Pope then invited the faithful present in the Paul VI Hall to have "a moment of silence, remembering those men and women who are desperate because they cannot find a job".
Then he dedicated a thought "to all the workers in the world, especially those who do strenuous jobs in the mine and in certain factories; to those who are exploited with illegal work; to the victims of work and we have seen, here in Italy, lately there are many; to the children who are forced to work and to those, poor people, who rummage in landfills to look for something useful to barter ".
Pope Francis emphasized the scourge of illegal work: "They give the salary of smuggling, without a pension, without anything", "today there is illegal work, and a lot".
On child labor: "Children, this is terrible, in the age of play forced to work as adults".
(HANDLE).
