Several California bishops praised Pope Francis’ Easter Sunday letter to leaders of grassroots movements around the world for showing the love of Christ to so many through their “noble and essential” work. Significantly, the Holy Father suggested this might be the time to investigate a universal wage to address structural inequities that leave so many unable to support themselves.
The group, who has met with the Pope in the past, is collectively known as the World Meeting of Popular Movements, a “truly an invisible army, fighting in the most dangerous trenches; an army whose only weapons are solidarity, hope, and community spirit, all revitalizing at a time when no one can save themselves alone,” according to Pope Francis’ letter.
The Holy Father also called for consideration of a universal living wage, “which would acknowledge and dignify the noble, essential tasks you carry out. It would ensure and concretely achieve the ideal, at once so human and so Christian, of no worker without rights.”
Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles responded to the letter, echoing the Pope’s sentiments about the underprivileged in society and those organizations that seek to serve them:
“Our Holy Father’s letter reminds us that the brunt of this pandemic, like the brunt of every social crisis, is being borne by the poor and those who live on the margins of society,” said Archbishop Gomez in a statement.
“As a society, we are seeing very clearly in this health emergency that we are responsible for one another and that we are called to serve one another and care for one another. This is a beautiful truth that we are witnessing every day during this pandemic — in our hospitals and homes, in our charities, and in all the quiet, unseen acts of self-sacrifice and service in our families and communities.”
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco extolled Pope Francis’ recognition of those who are working to serve the marginalized in his released statement.
“I join my voice to that of Pope Francis in thanking our brothers and sisters of popular movements and organizations for being the face of the compassionate Christ to the face of the suffering Christ. Even with government-sponsored programs, in times of crisis it is always the poor who suffer the most, especially those living in the shadows of society. Thank you for being the invisible army, fighting in the most dangerous trenches, bringing light, sustenance and hope to those who are most dear to our loving God,” said Archbishop Cordileone.
The World Meeting of Popular Movements was initiated by Pope Francis to enliven and encourage grassroots organizations to become “protagonists of change.” It has held meetings in South America, Rome, and Visalia, California in 2017.