Pope Leo XIV Emphasizes Dignity of Work at jubilee Audience
Vatican City – During a jubilee audience dedicated to the theme of work held November 8th in Rome, Pope Leo XIV addressed approximately 45,000 pilgrims, underscoring the importance of work as a source of hope, creativity, and the ability to contribute to the common good. The Pope delivered greetings in both Italian and Polish throughout the event, held in St. peter’s Square.
Leo XIV called for a concerted effort from institutions and civil society to foster employment opportunities that provide both stability and dignity, especially for young people seeking to realize their potential. He drew inspiration from Pope John Paul II’s 1981 encyclical Laborem exercens (“On Human Work”), published a year after the emergence of the Solidarity trade union in Poland. Laborem exercens itself was released 90 years after Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum, addressing the impact of new technologies – specifically automation – on the workforce, which John Paul II deemed as important as the original industrial revolution. the Pope emphasized the Church’s ongoing commitment,as articulated in Laborem exercens,to championing worker’s rights and guiding societal changes towards genuine human and societal development.
The Pope also highlighted the example of Blessed Isidore Bakanja (1885-1909), the patron saint of the laity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, beatified by John Paul II. Bakanja,a Congolese mason who converted to Catholicism as a young man,endured persecution and ultimately died from mistreatment at the hands of an atheist employer who opposed the spread of Christianity. Leo XIV described Bakanja’s unwavering faith as a powerful witness, stating, “To hope is to witness: when we witness to the new life, the light increases even in the midst of difficulties.”
Leo XIV noted the significance of this testimony originating from “young churches” in Africa, offering a vital message to those in more established regions. He emphasized that Africa is calling for conversion and is doing so through the inspiring example of its many young people who demonstrate unwavering faith.
