Pope Francis receives the delegation of the Spanish Young Farmers Association and talks about integrated ecology

Today, Saturday, Pope Francis received a delegation from the Spanish Young Farmers Association. At the beginning of his speech, His Holiness thanked his guests for this visit, and also for their enthusiasm in their work in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry and the service they provide to society. Then the Pope spoke about protecting the environment, saying that it, like other aspects of life, is not based on what experts provide or what the media publishes. All this becomes useful only if it is done conscientiously, but this is not what comes in the first place. His Holiness continued, pointing out that Argentina is a country where animal husbandry is widespread, and added that although he is from a city, he had the opportunity to get acquainted with the reality of rural areas, and this enabled him to realize that the first ecologists are you, the Pope said to his guests, young farmers, that is, people Those who work with animals and plants and coexist with the environment daily and know the problems and the success achieved in this field. And the Pope continued, telling them that they do not chant slogans, but rather live looking at the sky from waking up in the morning until going to sleep at night, and touching in the song of birds the joy, fears and needs of the nature surrounding them. The Holy Father added that this is something that gives them pride, but on the other hand, it constitutes a great responsibility.

Speaking about the work of farmers and animal breeders, Pope Francis said that it is a call from God to them, adding that God has made them witnesses of an integrated ecology that the world needs. The Holy Father went on to point out that this is a preliminary call that has its roots in God’s words in the Book of Genesis, when he called on humanity to cooperate in creation through work. The Pope added that this call is multifaceted, as it combines the direct relationship with the land, its guarding and cultivation, and all that this carries in terms of service to society. And about what God requires of them through their work, the Holy Father said that the Lord asks them to consider this land as a blessing that they should leave to their children, and to see in this production a gift that God grants through their work to His people to satisfy their hunger and thirst. In this context, the Holy Father stressed that hunger is not only for food, but also for God, who, in order to satisfy this hunger, did not hesitate to become bread, to become flesh, to thus reach the human heart.

Pope Francis continued his speech and said that from this basic value, for which he repeats his thanks to his guests, is born the responsibility with which they are entrusted in the first place, but also to all those involved in one way or another in the production, preparation and distribution of food. His Holiness stressed the need to work so that this great good that God has bestowed on us does not turn into a weapon, by limiting food access, for example, to people during conflicts, or into a mechanism of speculation and manipulation of product prices in order to achieve greater gains. We must, according to what the Pope continued, condemn these actions and feel pain in front of them, because this is not deserved by the animals that you raise with dedication, the Pope told his guests, and it is not deserved by the people for whom you work with enthusiasm, and it is not deserved by God.

Then Pope Francis concluded his speech, calling on his guests not to be discouraged, pointing out that every invitation carries a cross with it, and he talked about the effort and hard work that they have to bear. He also noted that it is more difficult to accept a lack of understanding from those who do not value something as fundamental to life as the production of food. Then the Holy Father entrusted everyone and their work to Saint Mary.