At 6:30am today, the Holy Father, Pope Francis departed from the Domus Sanctae Martae at the Vatican and traveled to the Ciampino airport where, at 7:00am, he boarded a plane and left for a pastoral visit in Turin to commemorate the exposition of the Shroud and the bicentennial of the birth of Saint John Bosco.
Upon his arrival at the Turin-Caselle airport, the Pope was welcomed by the Archbishop of Turin, His Excellency, Cesare Nosiglia, along with the Auxiliary Bishop, His Excellency, Guido Fiandino; the President of the Piemonte Region, the Honorable Sergio Chiamparino; the Prefect of Turin, Doctor Paola Basilone and the Mayor of the city, the Honorable Piero Fassino. Also present were the Mayor of Caselle, Luca Baracco and the pastor of Caselle, Father Claudio Giai Gischia, along with the ENAC Director of the Airport, Doctor Alberto Lelli.
The Holy Father then traveled by car to Reale Square in Turin where, at 8:40am, he met with a group of people who are part of the working world.
Following a few words of welcome spoken by a worker, a farmer and a businessman, Pope Francis shared the following words.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
I greet you all, workers, farmers, Authorities, young people and families who are here for this meeting, and I thank you for your greetings, which demonstrate the sense of responsibility you are taking in order to face the problems caused by the economic crisis, and for having borne witness to the fact that faith in the Lord and in the unity of the family are sources of great help and support.
My visit to Turin begins with you. First of all, I want to express my closeness to the unemployed youth, to all the people who are cash strapped and also to those who are poor, and also to all those who are entrepreneurs in various sectors, above all those who have to work the hardest in order to get ahead.
Work is not only necessary for the economy, but also for the sake of the human person, for his or her dignity, for the sake of his or her nation and also for the sake of social inclusion. Turin is historically a place that attracts workers, but today, it is strongly affected by crisis: there is a lack of work, there are more economic and social inequalities, many people are impoverished and are experiencing problems at home, with their health, with education and with other primary needs. Immigration increases competition but immigrants are not to blame, for they are victims of sin, of a wasteful economy and of war. Watching this spectacle of our times makes me cry because human beings are being treated like merchandise!
In this situation, we are called to reaffirm our no to such a wasteful economy which asks us to resign ourselves to the exclusion of those who live in absolute poverty - in Turin, this accounts for about one tenth of the population. Children are excluded (the birthrate is zero!); the elderly are excluded; and now the youth are being excluded (more than 40% of the youth are unemployed!). That which does not produce excludes by using and throwing away.
We are called to confirm our no to the idolatry of money, which pushes itself toward entering at all costs into the lives of the few who, despite the crisis, manage to grow rich despite the many others who grow steadily more impoverished, at times even to the point of physical hunger.
We are called to say no to corruption, so widespread that it seems to be an attitude, a normal part of life ... not spoken with words but present nonetheless. No to Mafioso collusion, fraud, bribes and other things like that.
And just like that, by joining forces, we can say no to the iniquity that generates violence. Don Bosco teaches us that prevention is the best way: even social conflicts can be prevented, and this is done through justice.
In this situation, which exists not only in Turin, but also all over Italy, all over the world and which is therefore very complex, we can't just wait for recovery ... or expect recovery. Work is fundamental - this is a truth that is declared at the beginning of the Italian constitution - and it is necessary that all of society, in all its components, should collaborate so that work can be accessible to everyone, work that is worthy of every man and woman. This requires an economic model that is not organized as a function of capital and production but instead as a function of the common good. And, with regard to women - like the woman who spoke earlier said - their rights must be forcefully protected, because women, who also carry the majority of the weight of caring for the home, for children and for the elderly, are still discriminated against, even at work.
This is a great challenge, which must be faced with solidarity and a wide scope; Turin is called to once again be the protagonist of a new stage of economic and social development, with its manufacturing tradition and agriculture. Let us consider the biblical account, in which God is truly the artist ... You have been called to this; manufacturing and craftsmanship - and at the same time, with research and innovation.
For this reason, we need to courageously invest in formation, seeking to reverse the tendency that has witnessed a decline in the average level of instruction in recent times, and many children who have abandoned school. They (many of whom are now working) went to school at night in order to be able to get ahead.
Today, I want to unite my voice with those of many labourers and entrepreneurs in asking that a social and generational pact might be established, as was indicated by the experience of Agorà , which has been experienced in this diocese. It is time to put data and resources at your disposition, in the perspective of working together, and preliminary conditions for overcoming the current difficult situations and in order to build a new identity which is adapted to the times and the exigencies of the territory. The time has come to reactivate an attitude of solidarity between the various generations, to recuperate the gift of trust between young people and adults. This also implies opening concrete possibilities for new initiatives, to enable a constant guidance and support for work, support for apprenticeships and connections between various companies, schools and Universities.
I was very pleased that you three were able to speak about families, about your children and about grandparents. Don't forget this richness! Children are the promise of the future: the work that you spoke about, that you have received from your ancestors. And the elderly are the richness of memory. A crisis cannot be overcome, we cannot escape from crises without youth, without young men and women, without grandparents. Strength for the future and a memory of the past which indicates where we need to go. Please do not neglect this. Children and grandparents are the treasure and the promise of a people.
In Turin, and in its existing territory, there is still significant potential for investment in job creation: assistance is necessary but not enough: we need to promote and to regenerate trust in the future.
These are some of the main things that I wanted to tell you. I add a word that is not meant to be rhetorical: please, have courage! I do not mean: have patience, or be resigned. No, no, this is not what I mean. On the contrary, I mean: dare, be courageous, keep going, be creative, be artisans every day, artisans of the future! ... with the strength of the hope that the Lord gives us, a hope that never deceives us. But we also need our work. I am praying for this and I am accompanying all of you with all my heart. May the Lord bless you all and may Our Lady protect you. Please, I ask you to pray for me. Thank you!
Upon his arrival at the Turin-Caselle airport, the Pope was welcomed by the Archbishop of Turin, His Excellency, Cesare Nosiglia, along with the Auxiliary Bishop, His Excellency, Guido Fiandino; the President of the Piemonte Region, the Honorable Sergio Chiamparino; the Prefect of Turin, Doctor Paola Basilone and the Mayor of the city, the Honorable Piero Fassino. Also present were the Mayor of Caselle, Luca Baracco and the pastor of Caselle, Father Claudio Giai Gischia, along with the ENAC Director of the Airport, Doctor Alberto Lelli.
The Holy Father then traveled by car to Reale Square in Turin where, at 8:40am, he met with a group of people who are part of the working world.
Following a few words of welcome spoken by a worker, a farmer and a businessman, Pope Francis shared the following words.
Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
to the working world in Turin
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
I greet you all, workers, farmers, Authorities, young people and families who are here for this meeting, and I thank you for your greetings, which demonstrate the sense of responsibility you are taking in order to face the problems caused by the economic crisis, and for having borne witness to the fact that faith in the Lord and in the unity of the family are sources of great help and support.
My visit to Turin begins with you. First of all, I want to express my closeness to the unemployed youth, to all the people who are cash strapped and also to those who are poor, and also to all those who are entrepreneurs in various sectors, above all those who have to work the hardest in order to get ahead.
Work is not only necessary for the economy, but also for the sake of the human person, for his or her dignity, for the sake of his or her nation and also for the sake of social inclusion. Turin is historically a place that attracts workers, but today, it is strongly affected by crisis: there is a lack of work, there are more economic and social inequalities, many people are impoverished and are experiencing problems at home, with their health, with education and with other primary needs. Immigration increases competition but immigrants are not to blame, for they are victims of sin, of a wasteful economy and of war. Watching this spectacle of our times makes me cry because human beings are being treated like merchandise!
In this situation, we are called to reaffirm our no to such a wasteful economy which asks us to resign ourselves to the exclusion of those who live in absolute poverty - in Turin, this accounts for about one tenth of the population. Children are excluded (the birthrate is zero!); the elderly are excluded; and now the youth are being excluded (more than 40% of the youth are unemployed!). That which does not produce excludes by using and throwing away.
We are called to confirm our no to the idolatry of money, which pushes itself toward entering at all costs into the lives of the few who, despite the crisis, manage to grow rich despite the many others who grow steadily more impoverished, at times even to the point of physical hunger.
We are called to say no to corruption, so widespread that it seems to be an attitude, a normal part of life ... not spoken with words but present nonetheless. No to Mafioso collusion, fraud, bribes and other things like that.
And just like that, by joining forces, we can say no to the iniquity that generates violence. Don Bosco teaches us that prevention is the best way: even social conflicts can be prevented, and this is done through justice.
In this situation, which exists not only in Turin, but also all over Italy, all over the world and which is therefore very complex, we can't just wait for recovery ... or expect recovery. Work is fundamental - this is a truth that is declared at the beginning of the Italian constitution - and it is necessary that all of society, in all its components, should collaborate so that work can be accessible to everyone, work that is worthy of every man and woman. This requires an economic model that is not organized as a function of capital and production but instead as a function of the common good. And, with regard to women - like the woman who spoke earlier said - their rights must be forcefully protected, because women, who also carry the majority of the weight of caring for the home, for children and for the elderly, are still discriminated against, even at work.
This is a great challenge, which must be faced with solidarity and a wide scope; Turin is called to once again be the protagonist of a new stage of economic and social development, with its manufacturing tradition and agriculture. Let us consider the biblical account, in which God is truly the artist ... You have been called to this; manufacturing and craftsmanship - and at the same time, with research and innovation.
For this reason, we need to courageously invest in formation, seeking to reverse the tendency that has witnessed a decline in the average level of instruction in recent times, and many children who have abandoned school. They (many of whom are now working) went to school at night in order to be able to get ahead.
Today, I want to unite my voice with those of many labourers and entrepreneurs in asking that a social and generational pact might be established, as was indicated by the experience of Agorà , which has been experienced in this diocese. It is time to put data and resources at your disposition, in the perspective of working together, and preliminary conditions for overcoming the current difficult situations and in order to build a new identity which is adapted to the times and the exigencies of the territory. The time has come to reactivate an attitude of solidarity between the various generations, to recuperate the gift of trust between young people and adults. This also implies opening concrete possibilities for new initiatives, to enable a constant guidance and support for work, support for apprenticeships and connections between various companies, schools and Universities.
I was very pleased that you three were able to speak about families, about your children and about grandparents. Don't forget this richness! Children are the promise of the future: the work that you spoke about, that you have received from your ancestors. And the elderly are the richness of memory. A crisis cannot be overcome, we cannot escape from crises without youth, without young men and women, without grandparents. Strength for the future and a memory of the past which indicates where we need to go. Please do not neglect this. Children and grandparents are the treasure and the promise of a people.
In Turin, and in its existing territory, there is still significant potential for investment in job creation: assistance is necessary but not enough: we need to promote and to regenerate trust in the future.
These are some of the main things that I wanted to tell you. I add a word that is not meant to be rhetorical: please, have courage! I do not mean: have patience, or be resigned. No, no, this is not what I mean. On the contrary, I mean: dare, be courageous, keep going, be creative, be artisans every day, artisans of the future! ... with the strength of the hope that the Lord gives us, a hope that never deceives us. But we also need our work. I am praying for this and I am accompanying all of you with all my heart. May the Lord bless you all and may Our Lady protect you. Please, I ask you to pray for me. Thank you!
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