Pope
in Prato: Combat cancer of corruption
(Vatican
Radio) Pope Francis Tuesday commenced his visit to the Tuscan cities of Prato
and Florence with a call to be ready to journey with Christ, and an appeal
against the exploitation of workers.
“The
life of every community demands that we combat the cancer of corruption, the
cancer of human and labour exploitation and the poison of illegality,” the Pope
said, kicking off his visit to the region to mark the Fifth National Convention
of the Italian Catholic Church.
Before
meeting with labourers and labour representatives, the Pope venerated the
“Girdle of Thomas” housed in Prato’s main cathedral, a relic which legend holds
was the cord or belt dropped from Mary during her Assumption into Heaven.
Speaking
on the symbolism of this relic, the Pope noted how in scripture the girding of
one’s loins means “being ready, prepared to depart, to go out on a journey.”
We
are inclined to remain sheltered, the Holy Father continued. However, the Lord
calls the Church to “a renewed missionary passion and entrusts to us a great
responsibility” to accompany those who have lost their way, to sow hope, and to
welcome the wounded.
The
“Girdle of Thomas” relic also evokes the image of service, like the Gospel
account of Jesus girding his loins and washing the feet of his disciples like a
servant, Pope Francis observed.
“We
were served by God who became our neighbour, in order to serve in our time
those near to us.”
The
Pope thanked those present for their continued efforts in integrating everyone
into the community, in contrast to the “culture of indifference and waste.”
Speaking
off-the-cuff, Pope Francis recalled the five men and two women of Chinese
citizenship living in poor conditions in Prato who were killed during an
industrial fire. The 2013 blaze broke out at night in a clothing factory as the
workers slept in a loft. The Pope described the event as “a tragedy of
exploitation and inhuman life conditions.”
The
Holy Father concluded his address by encouraging young people to never give in
to “pessimism and resignation,” and called everyone to place their confidence
in Mary.
“Mary
is the one who, with prayer and love, in silent diligence, has transformed the
Saturday of disillusion into the dawn of the Resurrection. If anyone feels
fatigued and oppressed by life’s circumstances, trust in our mother, who is
close and who consoles.”
(Ann Schneible)
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