The encyclical letter Pope Francis released yesterday, “Laudato Si,” challenges all of us to reflect deeply about the natural environment and our society, the dignity of all humans, and the need to seek solutions through solidarity.
The AFL-CIO welcomes Pope Francis’ appeal for “a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet…which includes everyone…”
Pope Francis raises serious questions about the structure of the world economy, the relationship between production and the environment, and the centrality of our concern for the poor and underprivileged, questions that have long been fundamental to the work of the labor movement.
The AFL-CIO applauds the Pope’s affirmation of the sanctity of human labor, and his recognition that the lessons of the financial crisis have not been embraced. Working families understand in a very personal way his declaration that “The principle of the maximization of profits, frequently isolated from other considerations, reflects a misunderstanding of the very nature of the economy.”
We are very much looking forward to Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to the United States and Washington D.C., and to the opportunity his visit will create for a new dialogue on community and solidarity in the U.S. and around the world.
Contact: Amaya Smith (202) 637-5018