Pope Francis pays tribute to teachers

March 16, 2015

Pope Francis paid tribute to the work of teachers during a March 14 audience with members of an Italian Catholic teachers’ organization.

“Teaching is a beautiful profession,” he said. “It’s a pity teachers are badly paid, because it is not just about the time they spend in school, but the time they spend in preparation, the time they spend on each individual student. I think of my own country, where many teachers have to work double shifts just to be able to get a decent wage. But what state will a teacher be in after a double shift?”

He added:

As Jesus taught us, the Law and the Prophets are summed up in two commandments: love the Lord your God and love your neighbor. We can ask ourselves: who is a teacher’s neighbor? The students! It is with them that he or she spends their days. It is they who await guidance, direction, a response - and, before that, good questions! …

Indeed, the duty of a good teacher - all the more for a Christian teacher - is to love his or her more difficult, weaker, more disadvantaged students with greater intensity. Jesus would say, if you love only those who study, who are well educated, what merit have you? Any teacher can do well with such students. I ask you to love “difficult” students more, and there are some who really try our patience, but we have to love them more.

 

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Further information:

• Udienza ai Membri dell’Unione Cattolica Italiana Insegnanti Medi (Holy See Press Office)
• Pope Francis says society today needs good, well paid teachers (Vatican Radio)