Pope Francis says "Work expresses and nourishes the dignity of the human being, allows one to develop the skills that God has given..." to Argentina

 

VIDEO MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER 

ON THE OCCASION OF THE 57th INTERVIEW OF THE IDEA FOUNDATION ON THE THEME
"LOGREMOS UNA SUSTAINABLE ARGENTINA"
(LET US BUILD A SUSTAINABLE ARGENTINA )

[Buenos Aires, 13-15 October 2021]

________________________

I would like to applaud the space for dialogue proposed by the Idea Foundation and the Union of workers of the popular economy.

 

  I sincerely want it to be a moment of authentic exchange that can collect the innovative contribution of entrepreneurs and workers who fight for their dignity and for their families.

Several times I have referred to the noble vocation of the entrepreneur who creatively seeks to produce wealth and diversify production, while at the same time making it possible to create jobs.

Because I will never tire of talking about the dignity of work. What gives dignity is work. Those who do not have a job feel that they are missing something, they lack that dignity which work itself gives, which anoints with dignity.

Some have made me say things that I do not support: that I propose a life without fatigue, or that I despise the culture of work. Imagine if this can be said of a descendant of Piedmontese, who did not come to our country with the desire to be maintained, but with a huge desire to roll up their sleeves to build a future for their families. Curiously, the migrants didn't put their money in the bank, but in bricks and land. The house first of all. They looked forward to the family. Family investment.

Work expresses and nourishes the dignity of the human being, allows one to develop the skills that God has given, helps one to weave relationships of exchange and mutual help, allows one to feel like God's collaborator in taking care of this world and developing it, makes one feel useful to society and in solidarity with the people one cares about. For this reason, work, beyond the hardships and difficulties, is the path of maturation, of realization of the person, which gives wings to the best dreams.

For this reason, it is clear that grants can only be provisional aid. You cannot live on subsidies, because the great goal is to offer diversified sources of work that allow everyone to build the future with effort and ingenuity. Precisely because they are diversified, they open the way for different people to find the most appropriate context to develop their gifts, since not everyone has the same skills and inclinations.

On this path, I believe that dialogue between entrepreneurs and workers is not only indispensable but also fruitful and promising. Thank you for this interview which you have planned with such a noble purpose.

May God bless you and please don't forget to pray for me. Thanks.

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L'Osservatore Romano , Year CLXI n. 234, Thursday 14 October 2021, p. 8.