Francisco met with ANMIL, an association that brings together amputees and disabled people at work, and spoke again about the need to guarantee safety. The increase in accidents “occurs when the work is unmanned,” when the exclusive purpose is to be productive. The Pope warns about the phenomenon of washing the conscience: “Life is not for sale for any reason, especially if it is poor, dangerous and weak. We are human and not machines”
Antonella Palermo – Vatican City
“Occupational safety is like the air we breathe: we only know its importance when it fails tragically, and it’s always too late!”
He already touched on the subject when answering a question from a journalist on board a flight to Mongolia, a few hours after the accident in Brandizzo, near Turin, where five workers lost their lives after colliding with a train. On that occasion, Francisco reiterated that the worker is sacred and that these tragedies, disasters and injustices often occur because of the lack of care. Today, in the Clementine Room of the Apostolic Palace, in front of about three hundred members of the National Association of Workers with Occupational Disabilities (ANMIL), which celebrates eighty years of its establishment, he returned to the subject, clearly remembering those workers “who were killed by the train when they were working.”
And in a speech that examines the dynamics underlying the labor dramas, he demanded respect for the standards and consider the responsibility of the workers as a priority.
The Pope at the Vatican welcomes the members of the National Association of Mutilated and Invalid Workers (ANMIL)
Every armed conflict brings with it legions of amputees
The speech of Pope Francis took as a starting point the memory of the Second World War – in fact, in 1943 the association of ANMIL was founded – which immediately led him to update his reflections by returning it to the “dramatic consequences of madness. that is war”, consequences that affect the civilian population. “Every armed conflict brings with it legions of amputees, even today,” said the Pontiff.
“When the conflict is over, the ruins remain, even in bodies and hearts, and peace must be rebuilt every day, every year, by protecting and promoting life and its dignity, starting of the weakest and poor.
Francisco greeted the members of ANMIL one by one
Recognize the full dignity of the amputee
The Pope’s words continued with a “thank you” that was repeated several times, accompanied by a request that the rights of the disabled, especially women and young people, not be forgotten:
“First of all, thank you for what you continue to do to protect and represent the victims of accidents at work, widows and orphans of those who died. death and misfortune. Thank you for the initiatives you initiated to improve the civil law of accidents at work and rehabilitation of people with disabilities. In fact, it is not only about guaranteeing adequate assistance and social security to those who suffer from these types of disabilities, but also to provide new opportunity for people to integrate and whose dignity needs to be fully recognized. Finally, thank you for your work in raising public opinion about accident prevention and safety policies, especially in favor of women and Young “.
Despite technology, accidents don’t stop
Bitterly lamenting that tragedies and dramas at work unfortunately do not stop, despite the technology we can use to promote safe places and times, Pope Francis admitted: “Sometimes it seems that we are listening to a war bulletin.”
“This happens when work is unmanned and, instead of being an instrument through which man fulfills himself by placing himself at the disposal of the community, it becomes a furious race for profit. Tragedies begin when the purpose is no longer man, but productivity. And man becomes a machine of production.”
Occupational safety is like the air we breathe
The Pope called education an important area to try to prevent accidents at work:
“Friends, the work of education and training ahead of you continues to be important, regarding workers and employers and within society. it is always too late!”
Beyond the idolatry of the marketplace
Then comes the quote from the parable of the Good Samaritan and the invitation, once again expressed by the Pope, not to feed indifference:
“In the world of work it sometimes happens like this: we continue, as if nothing had happened, surrendering to the worship of the idols of the market. But we do not get used to accidents at work, nor leave ourselves to be indifferent to them . cannot accept the waste of human life. Deaths and injuries are a tragedy of social poverty that affects everyone, not just the companies or families involved. We must never tire of learning. and relearn the art of caring, in the name of the common people. Safety is not only “It is guaranteed by good legislation, which must be implemented, but also by the ability to live as brothers at work.”
There are many workers who face dangerous tasks every day: “We must invest in safety,” said the Pope
Humanity is a “place of worship”, the body is not dirty
The Pope continued his speech with a very beautiful spiritual reflection, quoting Saint Paul, where the apostle spoke of the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit. If this is so, it means that, the Holy Pope observed, “by taking care of their weaknesses, we give praise to God.” Humanity is a “place of worship” and care is the attitude in which we cooperate in the very work of the Creator.
“You cannot, in the name of greater profits, demand more working hours, reduce concentration, or count insurance or security demands as unnecessary costs and loss of income.”
Carewhasing or washing the conscience
In the last part of the Pope’s speech, he also explained what he called the phenomenon of ‘carewashing’, which he considered “ugly.” These are all the behaviors of businessmen or legislators who, instead of investing in security, “prefer to wash their consciences with an act of charity.”
“Thus they put their public image first of all, become providers of culture or sports, of good works by making available works of art or buildings of worship, but ignore the fact that, as a great father and father taught the doctor of the Church, “the glory of God is the living man” (Saint Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies, IV, 20, 7). poor, delicate and weak. Only human we are not machines, unique people and not parts.
Consecrating himself to St. Joseph, patron saint of workers, amputees and the disabled, the Pope concluded by reaffirming that “each person is a gift to the community and that the impairment or disability of one person destroys the whole fabric of society.”
About 22 workers lost their lives after the collapse of a railway line under construction on August 24 in India.
