Pope Benedict condemns organized crime in southern Italy

[_Abyssinia]

Pope Benedict XVI condemned the organized crime that blights Italy’s far south during a one-day visit to the area.

He noted the region’s beauty, but said “an often vicious criminality wounds the social fabric” combines with unemployment to make the place “a land that seems to live in a state of constant emergency.”

The Pope made his comments during a homily delivered to over 40,000 at a public Mass in the town of Lamezia Terme in Calabria.

H e urged local people not to be afraid “to live and witness to faith in the various sectors of society.” Instead, he said, they should show themselves as “strong, confident and courageous,” knowing that when they face opposition they can find inspiration in the words of St. Paul: “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.”

catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-benedict-condemns-organized-crime-in-southern-italy/

 

[Blossoming]

I am sorry I missed the Pope’s address on this. I think Catholicism calls us to be strong and courageous enough to let Christ move through us even under social and even dangerous pressure.

I admire Pope Benedict’s call to ethical pro-activeness and his reminder that our strength comes from God and may be relied on.

 

[kildare]

Should the church come out stronger on the issue(sin?) of tax evasion? The black market which basically facilitates a lot of the Mafias is a real problem in southern europe as whole and not just Italy.