Benedict XVI Appeals for Employment of Workers
VATICAN CITY, MAY 2, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI appealed for
worthy
conditions of work, in particular for young people, in his first Regina
Caeli address from his new residence.
Addressing the 50,000 people crowding St. Peter's Square at midday
Sunday,
the Holy Father highlighted the day's liturgical memorial of St. Joseph
the
Worker, instituted 50 years ago by Pope Pius XII, "to underline the
importance of work and of the presence of Christ and of the Church in
the
working world."
"I hope that work will not be lacking, especially for young people, and
that
working conditions will be increasingly respectful of the dignity of
the
human person," affirmed Benedict XVI.
His message was inspired by the "Gospel of work," often mentioned by
Pope
John Paul II and explained in his 1981 encyclical, "Laborem Exercens."
The Pontiff greeted all workers "with affection," in particular the
pilgrims
of the Christian Associations of Italian Workers (ACLI), who had
congregated
in the Vatican and were celebrating their 60th anniversary.
"I encourage them to continue to live their option of 'Christian
fraternity'
as a value to incarnate in the field of work and social life, so that
solidarity, justice and peace will be the pillars on which the unity of
the
human family is built," the Holy Father said.
The Pope, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, did not hide his
emotion
when greeting pilgrims "for the first time from this window, which the
beloved figure of my predecessor made familiar to innumerable people
worldwide."
Benedict XVI moved into his predecessor's apartment on the third floor
of
the Apostolic Palace on Saturday. Since his election, he had stayed at
the
Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican guesthouse where the cardinal
electors
roomed during the conclave.