Pope’s Sunday “Angelus” on confronting economic crisis with Gospel values

(July 20, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI has affirmed that even in the midst of economic difficulty, strength comes from living Gospel values such as respect for human life and the family. The Pope stated this on Sunday while addressing the crowd gathered to pray the midday “Angelus” at Romano Canavese, close to Les Combes in the Aosta Valley region of northern Italy, where he is spending his annual vacation. The Holy Father recognized that in the town "many families are experiencing a difficult economic situation because of the scarcity of jobs." Growing unemployment is a concern in the Aosta Valley, which is dependent on both the automotive and telecommunications industries that have suffered in the global economic downturn. “Dear friends, don't be discouraged,” the pope urged. “Providence always helps those who work for the good and who occupy themselves with justice, helps those who don't think only of themselves, but of those who are worse off.” He acknowledged that the fundamental values of the family and respect for human life, sensibility for social justice, the capacity to endure toil and sacrifice, the strong link to Christian faith through parish life and especially through participation at Holy Mass, have been their strength over the centuries. These values, he said, "will permit today's generations to build their future with hope, giving life to a true solidarity and a fraternal society, in which all the various spheres, institutions and economy are permeated by an evangelical spirit." He challenged the young people to analyze the type of culture emerging around them and urged them to overcome the temptation of easy and illusory ways and find the road of true and abundant life.
Pope Benedict’s appointment at Romano Canavase on Sunday was his first public appearance since a surgery to set his right wrist, fractured in a fall in his room last week. He thanked the doctors and medical staff at the Aosta hospital, where his wrist was reset on Friday, and also expressed thanks for all the prayers offered for his recovery. The smiling 82-year-old pope showed great agility despite his right hand in a cast. He held out his left hand for the faithful to kiss and to greet well-wishers, but raised his immobilized right arm to bless the crowd.
Earlier on Saturday, the director of the Vatican press office, Father Federico Lombardi, affirmed that Pope Benedict XVI was recovering well after the fracture and subsequent surgery. "His general condition is good," the spokesman said, and the day after surgery was "entirely normal." The Jesuit priest acknowledged that the Pope was having to learn to live with his right wrist in a cast, including "the inconveniences that go along with this." "For him, the most painful thing is having to give up writing with his hand, something he intended to do a lot during these days," Fr Lombardi observed. The Holy See’s spokesman affirmed that despite the injury, the Pontiff would not be changing his program for the upcoming days, and will still stay at Les Combes for the duration of the vacation, until July 29. On Friday, he will celebrate Vespers at the Cathedral of Aosta and on Sunday, July 26 he will pray the midday Angelus with the faithful at the residence of Les Combes.