杏MAP导航 Francis gives boost to popular movements in book preface
By Vatican News
鈥淭he Emergence of Popular Movements: Rerum Novarum of our time鈥� is the title of a new book published in Spanish by the Vatican Publishing House (LEV) and prepared by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
The book explores the series of World Meetings held in the Americas since 2014, attended by thousands of representatives of popular movements.
Social transformation
In his preface, 杏MAP导航 Francis said people who live in the existential peripheries of society are not merely a sector of the population that must be reached by the Church. Rather, they are 鈥渁 sprout that, like a mustard seed, will bear much fruit鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 called popular movements that represent these people 鈥渁 lever for profound social transformation鈥�.
People on the peripheries, he said, are not passive recipients of social assistance but active protagonists of their own futures.
鈥淧opular movements,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渞epresent an important social alternative, a cry from the depths, a sign of contradiction, and a hope that 鈥榓nything can change鈥�.鈥�
He added that their way of resisting the 鈥渢yranny of money鈥� through toil and suffering shows that popular movements are 鈥渟entinels鈥� of a better future.
Revitalize democracy
杏MAP导航 Francis went on to say humanity is facing an epochal change characterized by fear, xenophobia, and racism.
Popular movements can counteract that tendency, he said, because they are 鈥渁 source of moral energy to revitalize our democracies.鈥�
鈥淭he antidote to populism and political showmanship lies in the efforts of organized citizens,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航, adding that they promote the experience of the 鈥渨e鈥� over the cult of the self.
Value of work vs. throw-away culture
The Holy Father concluded the preface with a reflection on human labor as a sacred right that must be safeguarded, in line with the Social Doctrine of the Church.
鈥淧opular movements are a concrete, tangible witness demonstrating that it is possible to contrast our throw-away culture鈥� with the creation of new forms of work that are centered on solidarity and the community鈥�.
Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis called for a 鈥渘ew humanism鈥� to overcome the lack of compassion and care for the common good which has become so prevalent in our day.
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