“Until we revive our sense of responsibility for our neighbor and every person, grave economic, financial and political crises will continue,” the pope said in his message for the World Day of the Poor.

“As bishop of Rome, I have decided to institute in the diocese the ‘Jesus the Divine Worker Fund’ to affirm the dignity of work,” Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis: “The protection of the environment and respect for the biodiversity of the planet are issues that affect us all. We cannot pretend to be healthy in a world that is sick.”

“We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life.”

Pope Francis said the aim of the decree is to “reduce in a significant way the danger of corruption” in the awarding of contracts.

On Pentecost Sunday, Pope Francis proclaimed the unity guaranteed by the Holy Spirit: “we are not bits of confetti blown about by the wind, rather we are irreplaceable fragments in his mosaic.” Gerard O’Connell reports.

Writing to priests in Rome and across the world, Pope Francis offered encouragement but warned against the ‘temptation’ to ignore the wounds of the pandemic. America correspondent Gerry O’Connell reports from the Vatican.

The pope also announced plans to canonize Charles de Foucauld, César de Bus and Maria Domenica Mantovani.

“One thing is certain,” Pope Francis writes. “Unity is not chiefly the result of our activity, but a gift of the Holy Spirit. Yet, unity will not come about as a miracle at the very end. Rather, unity comes about in journeying.”

Francis called for reflection on the encyclical in which he “sought to draw attention to the cry of the earth and of the poor.”