By Devin Watkins
Pope Leo XIV met on Thursday with labor leaders from the US city of Chicago for an audience in the Vatican, as they make a pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee Year of Hope.
In his address, the Pope said the labor unions represent thousands of workers, praising their work to enhance the skills of workers for the common good of society.
He said Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, who accompanied the group, has informed him of the contributions the labor unions of Chicago make to support seminarians, with the help of civil and business leaders.
The Pope praised the labor leaders of his hometown for “broadening the participation and inclusion of minorities in the labor movement through apprenticeships and training.”
“At the same time,” he said, “your commitment to the protection of the environment by teaching the skills needed for the development of renewable energies is not only commendable but also timely, given the urgency of the need to care for our common home.”
Pope Leo then thanked the labor unions for their work to welcome immigrants and refugees, especially through their support of shelters and food pantries.
“While recognizing that appropriate policies are necessary to keep communities safe,” he said, “I encourage you to continue to advocate for society to respect the human dignity of the most vulnerable.”
These efforts, he added, put into the practice Pope Francis’ call for labor unions to “be re-born each day at the peripheries.”
In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV prayed that the pilgrimage of Chicago’s labor leaders to Rome may be fruitful for their minds and hearts, as they continue their study of issues related to the rights and obligations of workers. – Vatican News
