Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis prayed for Italians dealing with economic uncertainty during his visit to Cagliari in Sardinia yesterday.

During the Sunday Angelus in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bonaria, the Pope said that he came to Cagliari ‘to share with you the joys and hopes, efforts and commitments, ideals and aspirations of your island, and to confirm you in the Faith.’

The Pope called on other institutions to join the Church in helping people suffering from the financial crisis.

“The loyal cooperation of everyone is necessary, with the commitment of leaders of institutions—even within the Church—to ensure the fundamental rights of persons and families, and to grow more fraternal and united,” he said. “To ensure the right to work, to bring home bread, bread earned by work!”

This followed a Mass attended by 20,000 unemployed and struggling workers and entrepreneurs from the island, the Pope spoke about economic difficulties in the island and Italy as a whole.

“It’s easy to say ‘don’t lose hope.’” the Pope said. “But to all of you who have work, and to those who don’t, let me tell you: Don’t let yourselves be robbed of hope.”

Pope Francis announced his visit to Cagliari on May 15 2013, where he spoke about how the shrine inspired the name of his home city, Buenos Aires in Argentina.

During the visit itself, he spoke further of his roots, as a child of Italian immigrants who faced financial difficulties themselves.

“It’s easy for a priest to come and tell the poor to have courage [but] where there is no work, there is no dignity,” the Pope said.

He called on the people of Cagliari to renew their trust in Our Lady of Bonaria and follow her example in looking after each other.

“There are people who we instinctively give less attention to, who have most need of it,” the Pope said. “The most abandoned, the sick, those who have nothing to live on, those who do not know Jesus, young people who are in trouble, the young who can’t find work.”

He concluded his angelus in the local dialect and blessed the island. “May Our Lady of Bonaria accompany you throughout your whole life!”

Pic: Pope Francis prepares incense as he venerates the statue of Our Lady of Bonaria during Mass at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bonaria in Cagliari, Sardinia