Monday, April 27, 2020

Encouragement to journalists and newspaper venders

This morning, the Holy See Press Centre published the text of a letter which the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent last week to journalists, volunteers and newspaper street venders, who are experiencing great difficulties at this time of health crisis.


Letter of His Holiness, Pope Francis
addressed to journalists and newspaper street venders

D.S.M., 21 April 2020

The lives of millions of people, in our world which is already grappling with many challenges that are difficult to face and oppressed by this pandemic, has changed and is being put to the test.  The most fragile people, the invisible ones, the homeless people are at risk of paying the greatest price.

Therefore, I want to greet the street journalists and especially those sellers who are - for the most part - the homeless, people who are seriously marginalized, unemployed: thousands of people all over the world live and have jobs thanks to the sale of these extraordinary newspapers.

In Italy, I think of the beautiful experience of Scarp de' tenis (Tennis shoes), the Caritas project that permits more than 130 people in difficulty to have an income and with it, access to fundamental citizenship rights. Not only this. I am thinking of the experience of over 100 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 throughout the world. Newspapers have not been sold in our streets 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 those who, in these times, are working with many innovative ideas. The pandemic has made your jobs difficult but I am sure that the large network of street newspaper venders in the world will return stronger than before. Looking at the poor these days can help all of us to become aware of what is really happening to us and aware of our true condition. To all of you, I send my message of encouragement and fraternal friendship. Thanks for the work you do, for the information you provide and for the stories of hope you tell.

Francis

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