People with jobs must be thankful, generous, pope says

(December 20, 2008) Those who have a job this Christmas should be thankful and should reach out to help their neighbours who are less fortunate, Pope Benedict XVI said. "With Christmas approaching, my thoughts naturally turn to the employment crisis that is worrying all humanity today," the pope said December 19, during a meeting with officials of the Vatican's Central Labour Office. "Those who have the possibility of working should be thankful to God and open their hearts with generosity toward those who find themselves with employment and economic difficulties," the pope said. Pope Benedict prayed that Jesus would watch over those suffering because of the global economic crisis and inspire new acts of solidarity among all people. Pope John Paul II established the Vatican labour office Jan. 1, 1989, to oversee the rights of Vatican employees and settle disputes between employees and supervisors. The Vatican, including the Roman Curia and Vatican City State, employs more than 4,500 people, the majority of whom are laity.