Pope Francis is in Trieste today, where he received an ovation at the Generali convention center. He was accompanied in a wheelchair to the backstage, then he got up and, leaning on a cane, reached the station.

In his speech, in front of delegates and personalities present for the Social Weeks of the CEI, he spoke about various political and social themes.

«In today's world, let's face it, democracy is not in good health. This interests and worries us, because the good of man is at stake, and nothing that is human can be alien to us", said the pontiff. Then adding an invitation to Catholics: «We cannot be satisfied with a marginal or private faith. This means not so much demanding to be listened to, but above all having the courage to make proposals for justice and peace in the public debate. We have something to say, but not to defend privileges. We must be a voice that denounces and proposes in a society that is often voiceless and where too many have no voice. Many, many have no voice."

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi also spoke: «Catholics in Italy are not and do not want to be a lobby in defense of particular interests and will never become partisan, because the only part they love and freely indicate to everyone is that of person, every person, any, from the beginning to the natural end of life. Without passport, whatever. And not just any love, but the one that Jesus teaches us."

For Zuppi, democracy is like an orchestra: "Every instrument is important, but in the orchestra everyone needs to agree with the others."

(Unioneonline/ss)

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