Starting Sunday with a Popes saying, worth listening to in Lebanon, about domestic helpers: Pope Francis also talked about the importance of helping immigrants, praising Swedens generosity in opening its doors to so many people, while noting anti-immigration policies show the rest of Europe is afraid. He also fondly recalled the woman who helped his mother with the housework when he was growing up in Buenos Aires. Concepcion Maria Minuto was a Sicilian immigrant, a widow and mother of two boys, who went three times a week to help the popes mother do laundry, since in those days it was all done by hand. He said this hard-working, dignified woman made a big impression on the 10-year-old future pope, as she would talk to him about World War II in Italy and how they farmed in Sicily. She was as clever as a fox, she had every penny accounted for, she wouldnt be cheated. She had many great qualities, he said. Even though his family lost touch with her when they moved, the then-Jesuit Father Jorge Bergoglio later sought her out and visited her for the last 10 years of her life. A few days before she died, she took this small medal out of her pocket, gave it to me and said: I want you to have it! So every night, when I take it off and kiss it, and every morning when I put it back on, this woman comes to my mind. She died happy, with a smile on her face and with the dignity of someone who worked. For that reason I am very sympathetic toward housecleaners and domestic workers, whose rights, all of them, should be recognized and protected, he said. They must never be exploited or mistreated. Pope Francis concern was underlined in his @Pontifex Twitter feed just a few days later, July 29, with the message: May we be always more grateful for the help of domestic workers and caregivers; theirs is a precious service. catholicnews/data/stories/cns/1403144.htm
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 08:02:18 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015