GREETING FROM THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
TO THE WORLD OF STREET NEWSPAPERS
TO THE WORLD OF STREET NEWSPAPERS
DSM , April 21, 2020
The lives of millions of people, in our world already grappling with so many challenges difficult to face and oppressed by the pandemic, has changed and is being put to the test. The most fragile people, the invisible, homeless people risk paying the heaviest bill.
So I want to say hello to the world of street newspapers and especially their vendors who are mostly homeless , seriously marginalized, unemployed people: thousands of people all over the world live and have a job thanks to the sale of these extraordinary newspapers.
In Italy I think of the good experience of Scarp de 'tenis, the Caritas project that allows more than 130 people in difficulty to have an income and with it access to fundamental citizenship rights. Not only. I am thinking of the experience of over 100 street newspapers around the world, which are published in 35 different countries and in 25 different languages and which guarantee work and income for more than 20,500 homeless people in the world. Street newspapers have not been sold for many weeks and their vendors cannot work. So I want to express my closeness to journalists, volunteers, people who live thanks to these projects and who in these times are working with many innovative ideas. The pandemic has made your job difficult but I am sure that the large network of street newspapers in the world will return stronger than before. Look to the poorest these days it can help all of us to become aware of what is really happening to us and our true condition. To all of you my message of encouragement and fraternal friendship. Thanks for the work you do, for the information you give and for the stories of hope you tell.
Francis
Full Text + Image Source: Vatican.va Unofficial Translation -
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