(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday denounced the idolotry of money over man.
Speaking
to some 20,000 workers and entrepreneurs and workers who have been made redundent
after his arrival in Sardinia's capital Cagliari, the Pope offered words of hope to
those struggling to make ends meet.
listen to Linda Bordoni's report...
``It's
easy to say `don't lose hope,''' he said. ``But to all of you who have work, and to
those who don't, let me tell you: Don't let yourselves be robbed of hope.''
And
using strong words, he denounced what he called big business's idolatry of money over
man, and he offered hope to the unemployed and the entrepreneurs who are particularly
hard-hit by the economic crisis in one of Italy’s poorest regions.
Francis
left aside his prepared remarks and spoke off the cuff to the tens of thousands gathered
to be with him, telling them he knew well what it was like to suffer from financial
crisis.
He recalled that his Italian parents, who immigrated to Argentina
before he was born, spoke about it often at home.
And he said “it's easy for
a priest to come and tell the poor to have courage” but he assured those present he
really meant it, and called for dignified work for all.
"Where there is no
work” he said “there is no dignity."
And the Pope noted that the problems in
Sardinia weren't the island's alone. He said they were the result of a global economic
system "that has at its center an idol called money."
Pope
sardinia 2
And the Pope’s busy schedule included a lunch meeting with
the bishops, and in the afternoon a meeting with a group of homeless people and prison
inmates who are assisted by the local Caritas organization, an encounter with representatives
of culture, and a meeting with young people. He is scheduled to board a flight
back to the Vatican as we come off air at 6.30pm local time.