Pope Francis Tells Youth "work together and build networks” - “All work that does not alienate, but rather sets us free, begins in the heart.”
.png)
The Roman branch of A.C.L.I, the Italian Christian worker’s association, organised an event on Dec. 17th in order to introduce students to the world of work. Pope Francis sent a message for the occasion, telling the students that “the world is opening itself before you”.
FULL TEXT MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE THIRD EDITION OF LABOR DÌ
PROMOTED BY THE A.C.L.I. OF ROME
__________________
Dear young friends!
I am happy that Labor Dì is taking place again this year, to promote and put dignified work back at the center. I thank the organizers, in particular Dr. Lidia Borzì, President of the A.C.L.I. of Rome.
Perhaps work has seemed to you up until now as an adult problem. As an elderly Bishop of Rome I would like to tell you: it is not like that! You have already worked a lot, do you know? How much effort and energy were necessary for your growth? Certainly, a lot is what you have received, but the efforts of parents, teachers, educators, friends would have been worthless without your response. It is true, everyone knows that they have also wasted good opportunities on some occasion; However, life itself never tires of calling us to come out of ourselves. We have our “dens.” We build shelters, especially when there is confusion and threats around us. But in reality we are made for the light, for the open. Thus, once you have passed through adolescence, the scene of the world opens up before you. It may appear crowded and distracted when you arrive; yet, it still lacks your contribution, that for which you have always been awaited. With you – and I would like to say to each one: with you – the new enters the world. Everything, truly everything can change.
Listening to the cry of the earth, of the air, of the water, which a mistaken model of development has so wounded, I have better understood a reality that I want to share with you today: in creation “everything is connected” (cf. Encyclical Letter Laudato si’, 117; 138). For this reason, the contribution of each of you can improve the world. The newness of each one concerns everyone. The world of work is a human world, in which everyone is connected to everyone. And unfortunately this “world” is also polluted by negative dynamics and behaviors that sometimes make it unlivable. Along with caring for creation, we need to care for the quality of human life, the pursuit of human brotherhood and social friendship, because our bonds matter more than numbers and performance. This also makes a difference in the world of work. And as you approach it, it is important that you keep firm both the awareness of your uniqueness – which is independent of any success or failure – and the propensity to establish sincere relationships with others. In many environments, you will then be a gentle revolution.
Last year I suggested the image of the construction site. The approaching Jubilee, in fact, was already starting to turn our beautiful city upside down. This year I propose another image, which recurs often and everywhere, even in the messages you exchange at all times. I am referring to the heart, which we usually connect with love, with friendship, but which in reality you will also take with you to work, just as it beats in you during school or university. For the Bible, the heart is the place of decisions. Aspirations are born there, dreams arise there, resistance is felt there, laziness creeps in. You know your heart: guard it! Sometimes it can be frightening and you can pretend not to feel it, but it remains ours, inviolable. We can always return to it. And there, if you have the gift of faith, you know that God awaits you with infinite patience.
I am writing these things to you because, as you enter the world of work, everything will seem fast. What is expected of you could almost oppress you. You will have, as they say, the breath of people you know or do not know on your neck: many requests, sometimes too many indications and recommendations. In these circumstances, learn to guard your heart, to remain at peace and free. Do not submit to requests that humiliate you and cause you discomfort, to ways of proceeding and to demands that soil your authenticity. In fact, to give your contribution, you must not accept anything, even evil. Do not conform to models in which you do not believe, perhaps to obtain social prestige or more money. Evil alienates us, extinguishes dreams, makes us lonely and resigned. The heart knows how to notice it and, when this is the case, we must ask for help and team up with those who know us and care about us. We must choose.
Dearest, we enter the world of work together. Not each on our own: we would quickly become cogs in a machine and those in power could do anything with us. The A.C.L.I., which brought you together, are a historic example of how important it is to associate, to transform the intuitions of the heart into social bonds. Together, dreams can come true. The heart seeks friendships, thinks without isolating itself, warms itself by identifying with others. The heart knows how to be flexible and generous. He knows how to give up something, but pursuing the ideal. He knows how to set goals, but he pays attention to the way in which they are achieved.
And when work is organized without heart, then the human dignity of those who work is in danger, or cannot find work, or settle for unworthy work. Today, the economy itself is realizing that knowing how to do things is not enough, that performance is not everything. Machines will increasingly be enough for this. Human, on the other hand, is the intelligence of the heart, the reason that hears the reasons of others, the imagination that creates what is not yet, the fantasy for which God has made us all different. We are “unique pieces”, let us help each other to remember this.
I thank the adults who walk with you and I say to them: let us not bend young people to the reasons of the existing, let us not corrupt its novelty: let us give them a hand and introduce them to the long times and even to the weight of responsibilities, let us trust in what is sown in their hearts.
Dear young people, I encourage you to join your efforts, to build networks, even international ones, to repair the common home and reweave human fraternity. The human heart knows how to hope. Work that does not alienate, but liberates, begins in the heart.
Best wishes, then, for this day! I am with you and I bless you from the bottom of my heart.
Rome, Saint John Lateran, December 17, 2024
FRANCIS
TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE THIRD EDITION OF LABOR DÌ
PROMOTED BY THE A.C.L.I. OF ROME
__________________
Dear young friends!
I am happy that Labor Dì is taking place again this year, to promote and put dignified work back at the center. I thank the organizers, in particular Dr. Lidia Borzì, President of the A.C.L.I. of Rome.
Perhaps work has seemed to you up until now as an adult problem. As an elderly Bishop of Rome I would like to tell you: it is not like that! You have already worked a lot, do you know? How much effort and energy were necessary for your growth? Certainly, a lot is what you have received, but the efforts of parents, teachers, educators, friends would have been worthless without your response. It is true, everyone knows that they have also wasted good opportunities on some occasion; However, life itself never tires of calling us to come out of ourselves. We have our “dens.” We build shelters, especially when there is confusion and threats around us. But in reality we are made for the light, for the open. Thus, once you have passed through adolescence, the scene of the world opens up before you. It may appear crowded and distracted when you arrive; yet, it still lacks your contribution, that for which you have always been awaited. With you – and I would like to say to each one: with you – the new enters the world. Everything, truly everything can change.
Listening to the cry of the earth, of the air, of the water, which a mistaken model of development has so wounded, I have better understood a reality that I want to share with you today: in creation “everything is connected” (cf. Encyclical Letter Laudato si’, 117; 138). For this reason, the contribution of each of you can improve the world. The newness of each one concerns everyone. The world of work is a human world, in which everyone is connected to everyone. And unfortunately this “world” is also polluted by negative dynamics and behaviors that sometimes make it unlivable. Along with caring for creation, we need to care for the quality of human life, the pursuit of human brotherhood and social friendship, because our bonds matter more than numbers and performance. This also makes a difference in the world of work. And as you approach it, it is important that you keep firm both the awareness of your uniqueness – which is independent of any success or failure – and the propensity to establish sincere relationships with others. In many environments, you will then be a gentle revolution.
Last year I suggested the image of the construction site. The approaching Jubilee, in fact, was already starting to turn our beautiful city upside down. This year I propose another image, which recurs often and everywhere, even in the messages you exchange at all times. I am referring to the heart, which we usually connect with love, with friendship, but which in reality you will also take with you to work, just as it beats in you during school or university. For the Bible, the heart is the place of decisions. Aspirations are born there, dreams arise there, resistance is felt there, laziness creeps in. You know your heart: guard it! Sometimes it can be frightening and you can pretend not to feel it, but it remains ours, inviolable. We can always return to it. And there, if you have the gift of faith, you know that God awaits you with infinite patience.
I am writing these things to you because, as you enter the world of work, everything will seem fast. What is expected of you could almost oppress you. You will have, as they say, the breath of people you know or do not know on your neck: many requests, sometimes too many indications and recommendations. In these circumstances, learn to guard your heart, to remain at peace and free. Do not submit to requests that humiliate you and cause you discomfort, to ways of proceeding and to demands that soil your authenticity. In fact, to give your contribution, you must not accept anything, even evil. Do not conform to models in which you do not believe, perhaps to obtain social prestige or more money. Evil alienates us, extinguishes dreams, makes us lonely and resigned. The heart knows how to notice it and, when this is the case, we must ask for help and team up with those who know us and care about us. We must choose.
Dearest, we enter the world of work together. Not each on our own: we would quickly become cogs in a machine and those in power could do anything with us. The A.C.L.I., which brought you together, are a historic example of how important it is to associate, to transform the intuitions of the heart into social bonds. Together, dreams can come true. The heart seeks friendships, thinks without isolating itself, warms itself by identifying with others. The heart knows how to be flexible and generous. He knows how to give up something, but pursuing the ideal. He knows how to set goals, but he pays attention to the way in which they are achieved.
And when work is organized without heart, then the human dignity of those who work is in danger, or cannot find work, or settle for unworthy work. Today, the economy itself is realizing that knowing how to do things is not enough, that performance is not everything. Machines will increasingly be enough for this. Human, on the other hand, is the intelligence of the heart, the reason that hears the reasons of others, the imagination that creates what is not yet, the fantasy for which God has made us all different. We are “unique pieces”, let us help each other to remember this.
I thank the adults who walk with you and I say to them: let us not bend young people to the reasons of the existing, let us not corrupt its novelty: let us give them a hand and introduce them to the long times and even to the weight of responsibilities, let us trust in what is sown in their hearts.
Dear young people, I encourage you to join your efforts, to build networks, even international ones, to repair the common home and reweave human fraternity. The human heart knows how to hope. Work that does not alienate, but liberates, begins in the heart.
Best wishes, then, for this day! I am with you and I bless you from the bottom of my heart.
Rome, Saint John Lateran, December 17, 2024
FRANCIS
Comments