Madrid, Spain, Nov 20, 2009 / 07:46 am
The president of the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum,” Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, called on young people this week to embrace the vocation to politics and work for the good of all persons, despite the risk it entails.
During the presentation of the 11th Congress on Catholics and Public Life, the cardinal said that a difference exists between seeing politics as a vocation and as a career. “If I participate in politics according to the world, I cannot speak of vocation; something else needs to be added, there needs to be sensitivity for the good of man,” he said.
“The vocation to politics entails great risk,” the cardinal continued. “As Max Weber said, it has demons that are stronger than those of ordinary life. But if nobody engages this risk, woe to us!”
According to the Spanish daily, “La Razon,” the cardinal also invited young people to “conquer the hearts of politicians, who are often fearful of being identified with a church group.” He said they need to feel they are not alone in the struggle for the common good.