杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

"As bishop of Rome I have decided to establish the 鈥楯esus the Divine Worker Fund鈥� to reaffirm the dignity of work, with an initial allocation of one million euros鈥�, writes 杏MAP导航 Francis in a letter to the Vicariate of Rome.

In the letter 鈥� dated 9 June and addressed to Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome 鈥� the 杏MAP导航 explains the Fund aims to support those who have lost their jobs and their livelihoods because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In particular, the 杏MAP导航 says, it is for 鈥渢hose who risk being excluded from institutional protection and who need support until they can walk again unaccompanied.鈥�

He says his thoughts go 鈥渢o the great number of daily and occasional workers, to those with fixed-term contracts that have not been renewed, to those who are paid by the hour, to interns, domestic workers, small entrepreneurs, self-employed workers, especially those in sectors most affected [by the pandemic] and their related industries.鈥�

鈥淢any are fathers and mothers who struggle to set the table for their children and make sure they receive the bare minimum,鈥� he says.

An 'Alliance' for the city of Rome

鈥淭he Jesus the Divine Worker Fund鈥� has been established 鈥渇or them, and not only for them鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 continues, 鈥渁nd all of us, beginning with the institutions, are called to contribute to it.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 goes on to say that he would like to think that this could become the occasion for a real alliance for the city of Rome, in which everyone may become a protagonist in the rebirth of the community after the crisis.

鈥淭his Fund is intended to be a sign that is capable of urging all people of good will to offer a concrete gesture of inclusion, especially towards those who seek comfort, hope and recognition of their rights,鈥� he says, inviting all institutions and citizens to share generously what they have in this 鈥渆xtraordinary and needy time.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis says that he appeals to 鈥渢he good hearts of all Romans,鈥� urging them to realize that this is a time in which 鈥渋t is not sufficient to share only the superfluous.鈥�

He appeals to priests 鈥渢o be the first to contribute to the Fund鈥� and to become 鈥渆nthusiastic supporters of sharing鈥� in their communities.

Praise for the work of the Diocese during pandemic

The Holy Father also expresses his praise and gratitude to the Diocese of Rome for the work it has been doing, especially at a time, in which so many are asking for help, and it seems that 鈥渢he five loaves and the two fishes鈥� are not enough.

He notes that many citizens have rolled up their sleeves to help and support the weak and that there has been an increase in donations in aid of the sick and the poor.

杏MAP导航 Francis even reflects on how Romans expressed their gratitude to doctors and health workers during the lockdown by applauding, singing and playing music from their windows and their balconies, 鈥渃reating communities and breaking the loneliness that undermines the hearts of so many.鈥�

All of this shows, he says, a deep desire for community and participation and urges us to work together, united, for the common good.

鈥淚 would like to see 鈥榥ext-door-neighbour solidarity鈥� flourish in our city,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 concludes, with actions that recall the Sabbath Year (of the Jewish tradition) in which debts are cancelled, disputes are dropped, and compensation is asked according to the capacity of the debtor and not the market.

In return, Cardinal De Donatis expressed his deep gratitude to the 杏MAP导航 for the establishment of the Diocesan Fund, and voiced his assurances that together with the institutions 鈥� starting with Municipal and Regional Authorities 鈥� 鈥渨e will all respond united and committed to creating an alliance for Rome, thus becoming protagonists of the rebirth of our community after the crisis.鈥�