What “has changed in the global world are not so much the problems, as their size and urgency. Incomparable are the amplitude and the speed of reproduction of inequalities. This we cannot allow! We must propose fair alternatives which are truly practicable.”

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Labour must be "free, creative, participatory and mutually-supportive" in order to enable people to express and enhance the dignity of their lives, said Pope Francis at a meeting with the Italian Christian Workers Associations (ACLI) on the 70th anniversary of the organisation’s foundation.

For Francis, what “has changed in the global world are not so much the problems, as their size and urgency. Incomparable are the amplitude and the speed of reproduction of inequalities. This we cannot allow! We must propose fair alternatives which are truly practicable.”

“The extension of insecurity, illegal labour, and gangster-style blackmail cause the sensation, especially among the younger generations, that job insecurity takes away dignity, prevents the fullness of human life, and calls for an immediate and vigorous answer.”

For the pope, labour is defined by four traits. First comes “Free labour. True freedom of labour means that man, continuing the work of the Creator, helps the world rediscover its purpose: to be the work of God which incarnates and extends the image of his presence in Creation and in human history. Too often, however, labour is subject to oppression at different levels:  of one person over the other; of new slavery organisations which oppress the poor; in particular, many women and children endure an economy which forces them to work in degrading conditions that contradict the beauty and harmony of Creation. We must ensure that labour is not an instrument of alienation, but of hope and new life.”

"Creative labour. Every man carries within himself an original and unique ability to draw, from himself and from the people with whom he works, the good which God has put in his heart. Every man and woman is a poet, capable of being creative. But this can occur only when man is permitted to express freedom and creativity in some form of enterprise or collaborative work done in community, which allows him and others a complete economic and social development. We cannot clip the wings of all, especially young people, who have so much to offer with their intelligence and ability. They must be freed from the burdens which oppress them and which prevent them from entering in their own right into the world of labour.”

"Participatory labour. In order to leave his mark on reality, man is called upon to express his labour according to the logic imbedded in him – the relational aspect – that is, to see always the purpose of labour as the face of the other and as responsible cooperation with other persons. It is there, where, because of a purely economic vision, one thinks of a person in an egocentric key and of others as a means and not as an end.  At that point, labour loses its primary sense of the continuation of the work of God, a work destined for all humanity so that all may benefit."

"Mutually-supportive labour. Every day you each meet people who have lost their jobs or are seeking employment. [. . .] People want to bring home bread for their family. A proper response must be given to these people. First, it is a duty to offer one’s proximity and solidarity. The many "circles" of ACLI, which are today represented here by you, can be places of welcome and meeting. Then, however, appropriate tools and opportunities must also be given.  What is needed is the commitment of your Association and the services it offers to contribute these job opportunities and new avenues of employment and professionalism.”

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