杏MAP导航: Pandemic an opportunity to improve worker solidarity

Produced leather sits in shelves at a workshops in Paris

杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis meets with members of the Italian Leather Chemists Association, and urges them to minimize the environmental impact of leather production while conserving their professional heritage.

By Devin Watkins

鈥淭he current crisis can be approached as an opportunity to grow together in solidarity and the quality of work.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis expressed that belief on Saturday during an audience with members of the Italian Leather Chemists Association.

The group represents scientists who draw on chemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology to produce leather from raw cattle hide and sheepskins, a process also known as tanning.

Technical advancements

Speaking to the Italian association, the 杏MAP导航 expressed his appreciation for the organization鈥檚 specific nature, which he said, offers an original contribution to the 鈥済reat polyhedron of global society.鈥�

鈥淵our profession applies scientific and technical knowledge to an artisanal activity with an ancient tradition, both in Italy and in other countries, even my own, Argentina,鈥� he said.

杏MAP导航 Francis added that he studied in high school to become a chemical technician, 鈥渁nd this draws me a little to your own category of work.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis holds the hand of an offshoot of the leather industry

Pandemic-induced challenges

The Holy Father went on to acknowledge the myriad difficulties many sectors are dealing with during the Covid-19 pandemic, and renewed the Church鈥檚 concern for 鈥渢he world of work.鈥�

鈥淢any workers and families are living through difficult situations, aggravated by the pandemic. But the pandemic cannot and must not become an alibi to justify failures in justice or security. Rather, the current crisis can be approached as an opportunity to grow together in solidarity and the quality of work.鈥�

Intergenerational exchange

He also held up the example of St. Joseph as model of how to overcome difficulties while giving full value to each individual鈥檚 talents.

The 杏MAP导航 encouraged an intergenerational exchange of work experience and enthusiasm to fuel new innovation, calling it a challenge of the current crisis.

鈥淚t is important to favor an exchange of the wisdom of the elders and the enthusiasm of the young,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think of young people who are passionate about a sector as original as your own, and need to find the 鈥渆lders in the field鈥� who have much to teach, not only on a technical level but also on a human one.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis with the Association's members

Environmental impact

杏MAP导航 Francis then turned to the environmental impact of the leather production sector, a reality acknowledged by the Association鈥檚 president in his introductory speech.

The 杏MAP导航 said humanity consumes many products that use chemicals in their production without realizing their impact on the planet.

鈥淵ou too, therefore, are called to offer your specific contribution to the care of our common home, and you can do so in the way you carry out your work.鈥�

Associations, he added, are an excellent way to pool knowledge, experiences, and juridical and technical advances to 鈥済row together in a social and ecological responsibility.鈥�

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis thanked the Italian leather chemists for their visit and blessed them and their work.