The Pope: institutions and society together for decent work. And receives 15 victims of abuse from Belgium

"Work must be a source of hope and life, allowing for the expression of the individual's creativity and ability to do good. Therefore, I hope for a collective commitment, on the part of institutions and civil society, to create valid employment opportunities that offer stability and dignity, ensuring above all that young people can realise their dreams and contribute to the common good". This is Pope Leo XIV's appeal during the Jubilee of Work audience in St. Peter's Square

Pope Leo XIV addressed a greeting to the Polish pilgrims present. "World of Labour pilgrimages," he recalled, "have a long tradition in Poland. Their inspiration stems from the teaching of St John Paul II and his encyclical Laborem exercens as well as the work of Blessed Fr Popiełuszko. Return to these sources to face the 'new things', urging the Christian vision of human labour'

In the catechesis of the Jubilee audience centred on the figure of the African blessed, Isidore Bakanja, who was born in Congo when it was a Belgian colony, Prevost instead explained that "the word of the Cross is a lived word, which breaks the chain of evil. It is a new kind of strength, which confounds the proud and overthrows the powerful from their thrones. This is how hope arises'. "Many times," he added, "the ancient Churches of the northern hemisphere receive this testimony from the young Churches, which urges them to walk together towards the Kingdom of God, which is a Kingdom of justice and peace. Africa, in particular, asks for this conversion, and it does so by giving us so many young witnesses of faith. To hope is to witness that the earth can truly resemble heaven. And this is the message of the Jubilee

"This afternoon Pope Leo XIV met with 15 people from Belgium, victims of abuse, when they were minors, by members of the clergy. The meeting, in an atmosphere of closeness with the victims, of listening and dialogue, deep and painful, lasted almost three hours and ended with an intense moment of prayer". This was announced by the Vatican press office.

An initial meeting at the Vatican of the Pope with a group of abuse victims had taken place last 20 October. In that case, Leo had met with victims referring to Eca, the Ending Clergy Abuse, a network active mainly in the United States. The meeting had come after the presentation of the report by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which had noted slowness in some dioceses in tackling the scourge of abuse. Yesterday, on the other hand, the Italian Bishops' Conference announced the date and calendar of the next assembly, which will be held in Assisi and will be closed by the Pope on 20 November. The celebration of Vespers and the prayer for the victims and survivors of abuse presided over by Mgr. Ivan Maffeis, archbishop of Perugia-Città della Pieve, is scheduled for that occasion.