Vatican City, Nov 10, 2011 / 18:00 pm
Pope Benedict XVI has called attention to the problem of unemployment as a threat to the dignity of individuals and families, in a message to the bishops' conference of Ecuador.
“Through work man comes to see himself as a participant in God's plan of creation,” the Pope wrote in his letter to Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference President Archbishop Antonio A. Yarza.
“This is why unemployment or precarious work undermine man's dignity, creating not just situations of injustice and poverty which frequently degenerate into desperation, criminality and violence, but also crises of identity.”
Pope Benedict's message, released Nov. 10, addressed the South American bishops assembled for the second Ecuadorian National Family Congress meeting from Nov. 9-12.