Holy Mass for Workers, Mainz (16 November 1980)

On 16 November 1980, the Holy Father celebrated Holy Mass for workers in Mainz, Germany. In his homily the Pope said, in matters of justice and social welfare, “we can never close ourselves within the borders of a country, a community of countries or even a continent.”

Dear brothers and sisters!

1. "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" ( Phil 1:2). With this blessing from the Apostle, I greet you all from the bottom of my heart. My fraternal greeting goes to the venerable Bishop of the Diocese of Mainz, Cardinal Hermann Volk and the Bishops and priests present here: however, today it is especially for you, dear Catholic workers from near and far.

Today's Sunday liturgy, the word of God, which we have listened to with intimate recollection, disposes us in a particular way to address important themes, which are proposed by your presence and by the words of greeting addressed to me at the beginning.

The encounter with the world of work, which was made possible for me in Mainz, near the tomb of a great forerunner and apostle of the social question of the past century, that is, of the Magontino Bishop William Emmanuel von Ketteler, brings back vivid memories of a whole series of similar meetings during my service to the see of Saint Peter (Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico, the meeting in Jasna Gora in Poland with the great mass of miners and metalworkers of Silesia, Limerick in Ireland, Des Moines in the United States , in Turin, the largest industrial city in Italy, in Saint-Denis within Paris, finally in Sao Paulo in Brazil). They are always particularly important meetings, not only from a social point of view, but also from an evangelical point of view. The problem of human work must be placed at the center of that pact,

Therefore it is not surprising that the social question, linked as it were to the foundation with the reality of human work, takes a central place in the declarations of the ecclesiastical magisterium. It belongs inalienably to the proclamation of the Gospel, especially in the present world.

If we address today's theme for this reason, we want to follow the voice of the liturgy, which places us "before the Lord who comes / because he comes to judge the earth. / He will judge the world with justice / and with truth all nations” ( Ps 95 [96],13).

The configuration of human justice and the measure that must be applied to the whole social question, still ever expanding, must be seen from the definitive perspective of the justice of God himself. The liturgy of today's Sunday, penultimate of the liturgical year, is of great help to us.

2. In the reading of the second letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians the theme of human work is treated in a completely open and direct manner on the basis of the personal experience of the apostle: "we have not lived idly among you nor have we eaten the bread freely but we labored day and night so as not to be a burden to any of you. Not that we didn't have the right, but to give you ourselves as an example to imitate” ( 2Thess 3:7-9).

Paul of Tarsus united his mission and his apostolic service with work, with the work of a craftsman. As Christ united the work of his redemption with the work in the workshop of Nazareth, so Paul united the apostolate with the work of his hands. May this be a reminder for many of you, indeed for all, a reminder to the entire Christian world of work: look at the problem of work in the dimension of the work of redemption and unite work with the apostolate! The Church of our time needs this apostolate of work in a special way: the apostolate of workers and the apostolate among workers, in order to illuminate this vast sector of life with the light of the Gospel. Just like Bishop Ketteler did! The light of God's truth and love must shine upon man's work!

This apostolate has a great task in the pastoral care of workers in dioceses and communities as well as in the efficiency of your associations, which are dedicated above all to the world of work. Evidently workers feel more than others the deleterious effect of intimate isolation, with all the ensuing burdens for faith. I would like to call your associations in particular to new and more energetic efforts, which have already, for various reasons, acquired historical merit, especially the Catholic employers' movement, the Christian working youth and the work of Kolping - for the love of men created by God and redeemed by Christ.

3. In the second letter to the Thessalonians we read: "To these we order, exhorting them in the Lord Jesus Christ, to eat their own bread and work in peace" ( 2Thess 3:12). A little earlier the apostle expressed the same thought in a very lapidary way: "Whoever does not want to work, let him not even eat" ( 2Thess 3:10).

These clear words, read in the context of today's development of the social question, lead us to recall the principles of Catholic social doctrine. They were expounded, after the encyclical "Rerum Novarum" issued by my venerable predecessor Leo XIII in the year 1891, in innumerable declarations of the ecclesiastical magisterium, especially of the Second Vatican Council, with deeply felt pastoral care; they were explained in numerous ages by many Catholic scholars, especially the German-speaking ones, and communicated to the working Christian people by the many efforts of zealous pastors of souls and responsible laymen. Do not let this spiritual heritage of pioneering believers in the field of the social question sadden you; instead let it bear concrete fruit for the old and new problems that concern you.

Man must always be at the center of all reflections on the world of work and the economy.

With all the objective justice required, respect for the intangible dignity of man must always be decisive, not only of the individual worker, but also of his family, not only of today's men, but also of future generations.

From this principle, which requires a change of thought even more than in the past, the light also shines on the understanding of the problems in your country, which I can only mention briefly here, but which are very clear to me.

I am thinking, for example, of those whose jobs are in jeopardy or have lost them.

A restructuring of the groups may prove, after a very careful test, necessary; and the more serenely one sees it, the better. But the workers, who for many years have given their best, must never be the only ones to suffer the disadvantages! Show solidarity with them and help them find a new qualifying job. You have already given encouraging examples.

I think of the workers you called from other countries and who, together with you, created what you enjoy today. In the problems that have arisen, your sense of responsibility will find solutions that do not harm their human sensitivity and serve the spiritual good of their families.

Further and even more profound problems arise from our ever more frequent bumping into the limits of economic development. Even if we don't want it, progress forces us to detach ourselves from our claims and give up something, to peacefully share limited goods with as many people as possible. If the social climate begins to stiffen, the subsequent processes of transformation can only be overcome objectively and in solidarity among all.

4. In considering these important problems concerning justice and broad social welfare we can never close ourselves within the borders of a country, a community of countries or even a continent. The social question today has a human dimension of a global nature. This emerges clearly from the declarations of the magisterium of the last Popes (“Mater et Magistra”, “Populorum Progressio”) and of the Second Vatican Council. If it is often said that from this point of view there is a tension between West and East, the tension between North and South is no less significant.

By "north" we mean the area of ​​rich countries, which live in a certain abundance. The "south", especially the so-called third world, designates that band of countries whose populations from an economic point of view are often underdeveloped, lead a poor life, and are even exposed to severe starvation to the point of death.

As citizens you have the duty to create a political climate which enables the state, especially the rich ones, to provide effective aid for development in all the necessary forms to those underprivileged and often exploited countries.

As Catholics you have begun many years ago in your great social institutions to perceive your co-responsibility on a global scale in an exemplary and increasing way. Don't give up on your efforts! Open your hearts even more deeply to the sometimes desperate needs of those countries! As supreme pastor of the Church, on whose shoulders an immediate responsibility also for those countries also weighs, I wish on this occasion to thank you very cordially, also in the name of those poor and very poor, for your efforts and your sacrifices. In a special way, I thank all the believers of your country for the last sign of such cordial solidarity, that is, for the collection made on the occasion of my pastoral visit for the relief of the extreme poverty in the Sahel region of central Africa.

This global dimension of the social question is an appeal to our human and Christian conscience; it will mark more and more the imprint in the last quarter of this century. The search for solutions on the part of all men of good will and the apostolate of all Christians must grow to an ever greater extent in this global dimension. In the name of the Gospel! And together in the name of human solidarity!

5. The social problem in its historical dimension today and for every people is closely linked for all humanity with the central task of ensuring peace in the world. “Justitia et pax”.

Justice and peace! as here one depends on the other: Pope John XXIII showed us this in his encyclical “Pacem in Terris”. We must think of it again, when the liturgy reminds us of Christ's words about "wars and revolutions": "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be earthquakes, famines and pestilences from place to place; there will also be terrifying deeds and great signs from heaven" ( Lk 21:10ff).

These words derive from the "eschatological" discourse according to Luke. Christ enumerates the different signs for the "disappearance of the world in pain"; they are continually repeated in history. This is why he adds: “When you hear of wars and revolutions, don't be terrified! For these things must happen first, but the end will not be immediately” ( Lk 21:9).

Let us still clearly remember the horrible atrocity of the Second World War, especially we, the sons and daughters of the European peoples. Let us remember that time of tremendous destruction and indescribable pain, of the havoc and contempt for man. This must never be repeated for the generations of our children and grandchildren, no longer among men, neither on our continent nor elsewhere.

We want to incessantly pray to God that this appalling lesson of history inculcates respect for the rights of every single man and every single people throughout the world. How important this is in our old continent! Concern for peace must never be lacking in the fulfillment of our Christian mandate; it can never be lacking in the efforts of all men of good will, especially those who have particular responsibilities in this area.

We hope that concern for peace will move all those responsible to seek continuous dialogue on the various problems - however serious and complex they may be - and thus strengthen day by day the much desired peace. At the same time, how could we not wish that the Madrid meeting, on security and collaboration in Europe, could contribute to strengthening peace in full respect for the rights of every individual and every people, including religious freedom, on the basis of the principles recognized in the Helsinki Concluding Act.

May the effective application of this authoritative principle of human rights and the rights of individual peoples banish from the life of humanity every form of imperialism, aggression, domination, exploitation and colonialism!

I say this as a child of a nation which has suffered greatly over the centuries and has been forced to defend these human and people's rights with great determination.

Hear on this the blessing cry of today's liturgy, with the words of the prophet Malachi: may "the sun of justice" rise, and may its rays bring health (cf. Ml 3:20), for all!

6. In today's Gospel Christ also says: "Be careful not to let yourselves be deceived! Many will come under my name saying: "It is I" and "the time is at hand"; do not follow them" ( Lk 21:8).

Dear brothers and sisters! We beg you: remain steadfast, immovable in the truth of the Gospel! Walk the paths of justice and peace in his light! No one must deceive us!

Christ further says: "They will lay hands on you and persecute you, delivering you to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors, because of my name" (Lk 21:12).

Dear brothers and sisters! Let's pray for all men in the world! We pray especially for our brothers in the faith, whose rights are being violated. Let us pray for those who suffer from repression, who are denied what derives from the principle of freedom of conscience and religion, however this occurs in the world.

Finally, Christ says: “Make it clear not to prepare your defense first; I will give you a tongue and wisdom, which all your adversaries will not be able to resist or counter. You will even be betrayed by your parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death; you will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your perseverance you will save your souls" ( Lk 21:14-19).

Dear brothers and sisters! We think of all those, even your compatriots, who have been faithful to this word of our Redeemer and teacher in a heroic way! We pray that we all remain faithful! Let us pray to the Lord that he always gives us his spirit of strength, especially in times of trial! And that we can bear witness to him day by day!

7. Christ says: "This will give you an opportunity to bear witness" ( Lk 21:13). We thank him for these words. We thank him for this extraordinary opportunity to be able to bear witness to a Gospel of peace and justice, here in Mainz, at the tomb of the great pioneer and apostle of this Gospel, Bishop William Emanuel von Ketteler.

For all of you, who honor the name of the Lord, may the sun of justice always rise and salvation come to you with its rays. Amen.

On this happy occasion, I would like to address a word of good wishes and gratitude to the members of the American community present here. Your input in the preparation for this meeting is deeply appreciated. I pray the Spirit of God to give you justice, peace and joy in abundance, which constitute the kingdom of God. For our part, dear brothers and sisters, allow me an exhortation in the words of Saint Paul: "Let us give ourselves to works of peace and mutual edification" ( Rom 14:9). May God's love always dwell in your hearts.

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