Pope Benedict: Humanity is searching for signs of hope

Humanity is searching for signs of hope in a world experiencing a period of profound change and where the divide between rich and poor is growing. This hope lies in Christian charity. And this is why each one of us is called to make his or her contribution; “so that the love with which we are always and forever loved by God becomes diligence and strength in the service of life and awareness of our responsibility”, said Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday as he greeted the family of the Italian Caritas, gathered in the Vatican Basilica to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its foundation.

The Pope expressed his gratitude for their work on the field, in hospitals, shelters, parishes and homes throughout the peninsula. A work, he said, that must be rooted in three attitudes: listening, observation, discernment. Another essential element, added the Holy Father, is the ability to have "a heart which sees" even when "the road is hard and our efforts do not seem to yield results" .

Pope Benedict also reflected on the major challenges of today, which further underline the need for brotherhood in a time of crisis. He spoke of the world of migration, the void between the north and south of the world and the violation of the human dignity of many people. This he said "requires a charity that knows how to expand in concentric circles from small to large economic systems ". The weakening of families, the uncertain conditions for young people, remarked Pope Benedict are also cause for concern.

The Holy Father called all those who operate within the Church to be sentinels throughout the territory, on the sure path of Gospel and the social doctrine of the Church, so that those who need may feel "the warmth of God through the open and welcoming hands of the disciples of Jesus."

In conclusion, he remarked: "The individualism of our day, the alleged sufficiency of technology, the relativism that affects everyone, call us to rouse people and communities to higher forms of listening, to the ability to open eyes and hearts to needs and resources, towards forms of community discernment on how to be and to live in a world in the midst of profound change. "