Pope
in Scampia: No to corruption and worker exploitation
(Vatican
Radio) Continuing his whirlwind trip to Pompeii and Naples, Pope Francis on
Saturday morning arrived in Scampia, an impoverished neighourhood close to
Naples where he received a rapturous welcome from the community there in John
Paul II Square.
It
is an area, which Cardinal Cresenzio Sepe described in his address to the Pope
during this visit, as a suburb of Naples, which despite its many problems is
rich in resources, especially the Parishes that are committed to spreading the
Gospel.
Speaking
to the residents gathered the Pope, mainly off the cuff, said “life in Naples
has never been easy, but it has never been sad! He continued by saying,
“never let evil have the last word” urging them instead to focus on hope.
During
this encounter with the community in Scampia, the Holy Father heard from three
representatives who included Corazon, an immigrant from the Philippines. He
told the Pope he was speaking on behalf of those from his community that are
immigrant those who are homeless and he asked Pope Francis to be an
authentic voice them.
The
Pope also heard from Michele, who spoke to him about the despair of those who
can’t find work. He told the Holy Father there are less and less people in his
community who have a job before adding that, “we need to believe in the
sacredness of work.”
Speaking
on behalf of the Prosecutors of Naples, Antonio Bonajuto, President of the
Court of Appeal of Naples addressed the Pope describing the effects of
corruption in society there saying, “it invalidates public ethics and generates
juvenile delinquency, despair and death.” He then appealed to Pope
Francis saying, “Indicate to us, Your Holiness, a path of hope to sustain the
commitment of all those who pursue law and justice…”
To
these three speakers the Pope offered words of hope and encouragement, saying
that immigrants are not second class citizens, we are all, he said, “immigrants
in the journey of life”, we are all children of God.
The
Pope also addressed the issue of unemployment saying that, it robs people of
their dignity. He continued by denouncing the exploitation of workers, saying
it was not Christian.
Tackling
the subject of corruption, Pope Francis said that a corrupt in society stinks
(puzza), it is ugly and a Christian who succumbs to corruption is not a
Christian.
Taking
his leave of the community in Scampia, the Pope invited them to have the courage
to travel on a road of hope, a hope he said, that is at the very core of
Neapolitans lives, especially in their joy, their religion, and in their mercy.
"
(Lydia O'Kane)
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