Pope Francis reflects on family and work

August 19, 2015

Continuing his weekly catechesis on the family, Pope Francis devoted his August 19 general audience to work.

“Through work, the family is cared for and children are provided with a dignified life,” the Pope said, in the words of the official English-language synthesis of his remarks. “So too the common good is served, as witnessed by the example of so many fathers and mothers who teach their children the value of work for family life and society.”

“The Scriptures speak of this in the Holy Family, describing Jesus as the son of a carpenter and a carpenter himself,” he continued. “As Christians we know that work and the spiritual life are not opposed, but in harmony, as work expresses the dignity of the person, created in God’s image.”

Pope Francis added:

When we engage in work, we share in creation by caring for the earth and cultivating it. If, however, we reduce work to profit and disregard its effects on humanity and the world, the environment and our lives suffer. This especially hurts the poor and families.

God has given Christian families the challenge and mission to make present the foundations of his creation: a true understanding of the identity of man and woman and the bond they share, their call to bring children into the world, and the gift of work in making the world ever more fruitful and hospitable. May God help us to embrace this call in joy and hope, especially admist the many challenges we face today.

 

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Further information:

• L’Udienza Generale, 19.08.2015 (Holy See Press Office)
• Pope Francis General Audience 2015.08.19 (Vatican YouTube)