(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met the participants of international conference of
the Centesimus Annus—Pro Pontifice foundation, which dedicated the last few days to
the study and discuss the role of solidarity in business decisions.
The pope
noted how solidarity was a prominent theme in the social teaching of St John Paul
II and developed further by Pope Benedict XVI.
In discussing the contemporary
situation, the Holy Father observed “the word “solidarity” has become inconvenient,
even troublesome. The crisis of these years, which has profound ethical causes, has
increased this “allergy” to words like solidarity, equal distribution of goods, the
priority of work, and the reason is that one cannot—or does not want—to truly study
in what way these ethical values can become concrete economic values, that is create
virtuous dynamics of production, in work, in commerce, and in finance.”
The
pope then reminded the participants the importance of the Church as the source of
strength to carry out this mission. “The Christian community,” the pope said, “is
the place in which the entrepreneur, but also the politician, the professional, the
union worker, draws the strength to nourish their commitments and encounters with
their brothers. This is indispensable, because the work situation at times becomes
dry, hostile and inhuman. The crisis putts the hope of the entrepreneur to a difficult
test. One must not leave only those who are most in difficulty.”
The pope finished
encouraging the laity to carry out this mission in the world. He said, “ you can give
effective testimony in your field, because you do not bring only words and discourses,
but you bring the experience of persons and ventures that seek to realize concretely
Christian ethical principles in the contemporary situation of the world of work.”
The
pope left them, asking for the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel and imparted
his blessing.
Listen to the report by Andrew Summerson:
Read
below the full text of Pope Francis' message:
****************
Dear
Friends:
I welcome all of you, members of the Centesimus Annus –Pro Pontifice
Foundation and participants of the international conference. I thank the president
for his introduction to this meeting, which is one step on the path that you are currently
on, seeking to respond to some of the challenges of the contemporary world in the
light of the social doctrine of the Church.
I thank you because you have accepted
the suggestion to work on the value of solidarity. In this way, we can carry forward
a theme of reflection and commitment that is intrinsic to the social doctrine, which
is always in harmony with subsidiarity. In particular, this theme emerged with great
prominence in the magisterium of St John Paul II and also was explained and updated
by Pope Benedict XVI in Caritas in veritate.
In the contemporary economic system—and
in the mentality that it generates—the word “solidarity” has become inconvenient,
even troublesome—last year, I said it was considered a curse word by this world. The
crisis of these years, which has profound ethical causes, has increased this “allergy”
to words like solidarity, equal distribution of goods, the priority of work, and the
reason is that one cannot—or does not want—to truly study in what way these ethical
values can become concrete economic values, that is create virtuous dynamics of production,
in work, in commerce, in finance.
Truly this is what you seek to do, holding
together the theoretical and practical aspects, thoughts and the experiences “in the
field.”
The conscience of the entrepreneur is the place in which such research
occurs. In particular, the Christian entrepreneur is urged to always confront the
Gospel with the reality in which he works; the Gospel asks him to put the human person
and the common good in first place, to perform his role so that there might be work
opportunities, dignified work. Naturally this venture is not accomplished in isolation
but in collaborating with others who share an ethical base and who search to expand
the net as large as possible.
The Christian community—the parish, the diocese,
the associations—is the place in which the entrepreneur, but also the politician,
the professional, the union worker, draws the strength to nourish their commitments
and encounters with their brothers. This is indispensable, because the work situation
becomes dry, at times, hostile and inhuman. The crisis putts the hope of the entrepreneur
to a difficult test. One must not leave only those who are most in difficulty.
Dear
friends of “Centesimus Annus,” this is your field of testimony. The Second Vatican
Council insisted on the fact that the lay faithful are called to accomplish their
mission in in the social, economic and political sectors of life. With the help of
God and of the Church, you can give effective testimony in your field, because you
do not bring only, words and discourses, but you bring the experience of persons and
ventures that seek to realize concretely Christian ethical principles in the contemporary
situation of the world of work. This testimony is most important and I encourage you
to move ahead with faith, dedicating proper time to prayer, because also the layperson,
also the entrepreneur needs to pray and to pray often when the challenges are most
difficult! Last Wednesday I held the catechesis on the gift of counsel, one of the
seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, also you must ask God for this gift, the gift of counsel,
in order to act and make your choices according to the greater good. May the Virgin
Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, accompany you and also my blessing.