POPE FRANCIS. Pope Francis brought laughter to a group of young people gathered at the Vatican when he quoted a metaphor from Argentinean comedian, Luis Landriscina, about a “ham and cheese sandwich” to encourage these Christian youths to commit themselves to help people find their dignity again.
Speaking in Spanish, Pope Francis addressed the youth symposium against prostitution and human trafficking, which was held at Casia Pio IV of the Vatican on November 15-16.
In his speech, which has been aired on YouTube, Pope Francis recalled the words of Landriscina, “Who explained the difference between collaboration and commitment. All of us have to collaborate, but Christians have to be committed. Landriscina said, “The cow collaborates in our nourishment when she gives us milk. She gives milk that is made into cheese, and then we make a sandwich. But a sandwich with just cheese is a little bland, so we have to add a piece of ham. When it comes to the pig, the pig doesn’t collaborate in making the ham, it gives its life, it commits.”
The Pope explained, “Giving one’s life is risking one’s life. Life only has meaning if we are willing to risk it, to let it pass for the good of others…” The Pope expressed his pleasure at “seeing many young people who want to commit themselves.” “Remember this ham and cheese sandwich!”
The Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Social Sciences, the Global Freedom Network, and the Argentinian non-profit, Vinculos en Red (Links in Red) led by Alicia Peressutti, organized the symposium.
Many youths from different nationalities, who are close to this reality, participated in the event with the aim of sharing their experience and coordinating ideas against human trafficking.
“Thank you for the work you are doing,” the Holy Father continued. “It is a struggle we are all called to engage in, a struggle against that movement which is leading humanity to think that the person is an object that can be used and thrown away. An object to be used.”
“We need to recover the dignity of the person,” he continued. “We are certainly in an age in which the human person is used as an object and ends up becoming disposable material. In the eyes of God, there is no disposable material, there is only dignity.”
“The work you are doing, the concern that you have to rescue those who are thrown away to find their dignity again. Thank you for what you do, for the work, for committing yourself. Committing oneself is to give life, to spend life,” he added.
At the conclusion of the symposium, the Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, presented Pope Francis with a joint declaration against human trafficking signed by all the participants.
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Original: Spanish – Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA
