To Austrian Workers (12 September 1983)

On Monday, 12 September 1983, the Holy Father addressed the Austrian workers, gathered in Am Hof Square. The Pope spoke of the opportunity afforded by common work to get to know the cultures of foreign workers.

Dear Brothers and Sisters from the world of work!

1. I cordially greet all of you who have come here today: I greet the Austrian workers, and I greet you who, having come from different European countries and even overseas, have found work here in Austria. Your coming together is a clear sign to me of the solidarity you have already found at work. On this occasion, I also greet all those who, in many companies across the country, commit their work capacity day to day for the good of all: in crafts, industry, agriculture, administration and services.

This meeting is intended to be a sign of my deep union with the men who work. I want to be by your side and share your hopes, concerns and anguish. I want to instill in you and your families confidence and courage, and this with the strength of our Christian faith that most of you carry in your hearts.

Dear friends! You are united by a common work, often difficult, but you are also diverse by history, tradition, language, culture and religion.

2. I address you first, dear foreign workers. In search of work and bread — partly with your own family — you left your homeland to start a new life in a new environment, in a country with another culture and another language. You brought with you — and this is your wealth — your multiple abilities, your will and commitment to work. Over the years you have contributed to the economic development and industrial progress of the Austrian Nation and in this way you have acquired the right to equal treatment in all social issues at work. Furthermore, you also bring from your homeland a rich cultural heritage, your religiosity and your humanity.

Thus, once again, on Austrian soil are members of diverse peoples: in peaceful union and common work. This makes intense contacts between different cultures possible, getting to know each other better, and fraternal union between peoples. Common work could lead to reciprocal human and spiritual enrichment. Working together in the same place could be a help to overcome possible prejudices towards others, and to reinforce esteem and tolerance for those who speak a different language and profess another faith.

3. The receiving country and its population therefore have the duty to accept foreign workers, especially as men, and to reach out to them fraternally. They should not be considered only as labor force or means of production, which are conquered and enjoyed, possibly at a low price, even evading current social laws. Everyone, but especially the public administration, must help them, as much as possible, to find their own families and find decent housing. Public institutions, such as unions, parties and cultural institutions are also called upon, according to their possibilities, to contribute to overcoming discrimination and prejudice, intolerance and mistrust.

I particularly recommend that Christians in this country offer authentic hospitality, take a sincere interest in their personal lives and work, in order to better understand their problems. Like Jesus Christ himself and many righteous people after Him, we Christians must go beyond the limits of our tradition, our social position, our cultural formation and recognize our brother precisely in the stranger and in the needy, accepting him with love.

At this point I would like to thank the Church of Austria for everything it has done in the pastoral field for the benefit of foreign workers, and for everything it proposes to do in the future. In particular, I would like to thank those priests who followed their faithful from their motherland, in order to proclaim the Good News to them in their native language even abroad.

4. And now, dear brothers and sisters, I address myself in particular to those among you, men and women, who come from Austria. It is known, beyond the confines of your country, that you face social conflicts in the world of work at a very advanced level. With the union you acquired a strong organization and the large number of registered members demonstrates a high level of solidarity between you. Through a long struggle, you resolved the most important problems in the field of work and obtained appropriate legislation. You have achieved a certain level of participation in the economic sector and you have also demonstrated that you manage these possibilities in a competent and responsible manner. Workers from other countries look at you with respect. It is comforting that in your country job givers and workers seek to face together the problems to be resolved with a loyal "understanding of the parties" and have already achieved notable results.

I would like to express to you, therefore, my gratitude, because Christian social doctrine affirms, with particular determination, the principle of peaceful solidarity at the service of all.

In your country too, however, the economic system and the working world must face completely new problems. On the international horizon, a serious economic crisis is emerging, which, it appears, is causing lasting unemployment in many places. Some experts predict changes that will mean that human labor for the production of goods and services will be required to a much lesser extent. We are already starting to see differences. In such a situation we must demonstrate what we Christians think of man and work. It should not happen that anyone who loses their place of work also loses their position in society and is isolated and deprived of self-esteem. Work is of fundamental importance for man, and Christianity itself gave work great importance. But the Christian message also shows that man becomes man not only through work. Man is the image of God and is evaluated according to his inalienable dignity and not according to his work. Therefore, unemployment should never be considered a personal fault.

It is not possible to find a solution to this serious problem without sacrifices on the part of all interested parties. You must frequently test your solidarity. I have confidence in you, and I know that together you will find a solution.

5. Not all men are affected equally by the scourge of unemployment. There are groups that need your particular attention.

There are an increasing number of young people who, after the period of vocational training, do not find a permanent job. They find themselves bitterly disappointed in their preparation for work and commitment to responsibility in society. Women are the first to be left without a job.

Although their role in the family deserves the greatest consideration, they should not be discriminated against in their profession. Today's women work in all professional fields, and must be able to carry out their activities according to their own abilities, without prejudice or exclusion from positions to which they feel transported. The situation is particularly difficult for disabled people. But it would be unworthy of man and a denial of common human nature to give work only to people at full efficiency. Men cannot be divided into strong, healthy and well-accepted men on the one hand, and weak, sick and poorly tolerated men on the other. Also in this case, work must be subordinated to human dignity and not to economic interests. Even when, despite all your efforts, there are unemployed among you, you must seek a solution with them.

Finally, I must speak of a problem that I feel particularly close to my heart. Let us not forget, due to the justified concerns about the economic and social future of our countries, the much more serious misery of Third World countries. We cannot think only of ourselves when it comes to solving major social problems. Precisely we, as Christians, must look for solutions, always bearing in mind the dignity of those men whose fundamental rights are violated.

This also applies to the dependent labor sector in many countries around the world.

In this regard, I appeal to Catholic associations of job donors and workers, universities and social institutions, to carefully study current world economic and professional problems, in the light of Catholic social doctrine — up to the Encyclical Laborem exercans — so that, through the collaboration of all responsible forces, fair and achievable solutions can be found.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

6. Although today's problems seem enormous, it is no reason to resign ourselves. This world — also in its current situation — was given to us by God as a task. Our Christian faith contains many reasons and principles for seeking to fulfill this task. The first pages of the Bible — the description of the act of creation — represent in a sense the first Gospel of work. Man was created in the image of God and through his work he participates in the work of the Creator. This doesn't just refer to extraordinary services. Men and women who acquire the means of subsistence through daily work can rightly be convinced that, in this way, they continue the work of God.

The increase in social problems in industry and the economy led workers, in an increasingly decisive way, to common action — to solidarity. By walking together, working men and women freed themselves from humiliation and oppression.

They created the conditions for a life worthy of man, for a life of justice and freedom. For this, Christian workers found strength and encouragement in the social doctrine of the Church.

Christian solidarity compels action. In the Gospels we see Jesus crossing His homeland with a vigilant look. Full of love, he addresses men tormented by suffering and takes them out of the isolation of illness and contempt. This way. With great determination, He rises above the opposition of those around Him, including the apostles. Thus, for the solidary Christian there cannot be neutrality in the face of injustice. He abandons his comfortable indifference and is ready for action. The decision to act is very important for building a world worthy of man.

Christian solidarity encourages common action. The passage "from I to we" involves the renunciation of selfishness and obstinacy. The search for reciprocal understanding is also a school for personal growth and maturation. Finally, common action is the fair way to resolve existing problems with those directly interested. We frequently see these elements in the history of the Church of Christ. The Lord's disciples also form a group around Jesus that learns and acts in community. They are sent two by two and do not just announce an individual message of salvation — salvation is a promise for all of God's people.

Christian solidarity lives for the "pro" not the "against". Solidarity action aims to eliminate the useless suffering caused by men or nature. It is also directed against those who are interested in the possible persistence of such injustices. Ultimately, the impulse to action must not be the "against", which can lead to new oppression, but the "pro" that liberates. We see how Jesus is not afraid of controversies with evildoers and those who do injustice. His purpose is redemption, not the sinner's perdition; His purpose is life, not death. The objective of workers' solidarity should also not be victory, triumph and domination, but support, improvement and understanding.

If you unite in solidarity to create a world that is just and worthy of man, you place yourselves at the service of life. The desire that God has to save us is immense. He wants us to live and have life full.

7. In addition to these considerations on solidarity at work, I would like to add a cordial word of recognition for those brothers and sisters in the world of work who consciously occupy their place of work as believing Christians. I know that, precisely in Austria, for many decades, these men and women have been active in the working class and have been witnesses of Christ. And it was from these Christians that many impulses came to solve the numerous problems of workers. Among the workers, the first and closest apostles must be the workers themselves. I think, therefore, of the many lay people and priests who dedicate themselves above all to the apostolate of workers. I know that many in Austria are also positively influenced by the spirit of Cardinal Cardjin. And if today the Austrian Catholic workers' movement invited foreign workers to meet me in this square, I see this as a sign full of hope: Christians want to demonstrate that solidarity at work does not end at the confines of their country and its interests. I thank you for the example you gave me.

Dear brothers and sisters from the world of work! Be aware of your dignity and your vocation: you are children of God, collaborators with God who created this world and entrusted it to us. Strive to make it better. Use your strength to create social conditions that are fair and worthy of man. You have a great past, don't leave the future to fate!

I assure you: the Church feels deeply connected to you and is at your side. She believes in the values ​​that every man possesses and in the order that the Creator of the world entrusted to each man.

I ask God, at this moment, that the economic situation improves again and that you and your families are freed from burdens and worries, that justice reigns in companies and workplaces and so — in you and through you — may each increasingly evident that the kingdom of God has already begun. Both in this world and in the world of work.

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