POPE

Pope to Christian Associations of Italian Workers: 'Be a voice of peace'

Meeting with members of the ACLI Pope Francis encourages them to continue to cultivate and practice the Christian values of social solidarity and peace that inspired their founders.

By Lisa Zengarini

Pope Francis on Saturday met with the Christian Associations of Italian Workers (ACLI) as they celebrate the 80th anniversary of their foundation in 1944.

Commitment to making a difference in society

Addressing some 6,000 members of the organization in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope warmly commended their decades-long commitment to solidarity in the service of workers, pensioners, young people, migrants and all the people in need, but also of the cause of peace.

“The ACLI ," he noted , "are a place where it is possible to meet the ‘saints of next door’, who don’t hit the frontpages but sometimes actually make a difference for the better.”

The Pope then focused his reflection on five distinctive features of their “style” of work . The first is their “popular” style, that is “not only being close to the people”, but also “feeling part of the people.”

A popular style

“A popular style implies recognizing that great social projects and lasting transformations arise from below, from shared commitment and collective dreams”, he said. “But the true essence of the people lies in solidarity and a sense of belonging”, which, the Pope remarked remarked, is so much needed today “in our fragmented society and individualistic culture.”

“In the context of a fragmented society and an individualistic culture, we have a great need for places where people can experience this creative and dynamic sense of belonging, which helps to move from I to we, to jointly develop projects for the common good and to find ways and ways to achieve them.”

Working together with people from different backgrounds

The second feature Pope Francis mentioned is the ACLI’s the synodal style. Working together with people from different backgrounds collaborating for the common good is “fundamental”, he remarked, encouraging the ACLI to continue this path with a special attention to the weakest in society, so that “no one is left behind.”

Commitment to the values of democracy and peace

The Pope then recalled that loyalty to the principles of democracy and the protection and promotion of human rights is another distinctive feature of the ACLI. The Pope noted that for a society to be truly democratic, everyone should have a place. This is why, he noted, the support they provide to those who risk marginalization - young people, women, vulnerable workers and migrants and elderly and pensioners is so important.

Pope Francis also praised the ACLI for their active commitment to the cause of peace: “In a world marked by conflicts and divisions,” he said, “your testimony as peacemakers, as intercessors for peace, is more necessary and precious than ever.”

“Interceding for peace is something that goes far beyond simple political compromise, because it requires getting involved and taking a risk.”

Adopting a Christian style

Finally, Pope Francis recalled the Christian inspiration of the ACLI which permeates their commitment to serving workers, peace and to promoting the dignity of all people.

“Adopting a Christian style means growing in familiarity with the Lord and in the spirit of the Gospel, so that it can permeate everything we do and our action has the style of Christ and makes Him present in the world”

In the face of “cultural visions that risk cancelling the beauty of human dignity and tearing society apart”, concluding Pope Francis encouraged the Christian Associations to continue their service to the community and “to cultivate a new dream of fraternity and social friendship.”

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