In February, the pope met with thousands of entrepreneurs from the “Economy of Communion,” the international network of companies linked to the Focolare Movement.
During this audience, the pope said that the real value of the work of an entrepreneur goes far beyond its lucrative dimension.
POPE FRANCIS
'The first gift of the entrepreneur is of his or her own person: your money, although important, is too little. Money does not help if it is not accompanied by the gift of the person.'
On Respect Life Sunday, the pope denounced those who treat abortion and euthanasia as if they were done as acts of compassion.
POPE FRANCIS
'Let us pray together for the children who are in danger of pregnancy being interrupted, as wellas the people who are at the end of life, every life is sacred, so that no one is left alone.'
In mid-February, Pope Francis visited one of the universities of Rome. For a few hours, he became the professor of thousands of students.
Before beginning the lesson, however, he stopped to take dozens of selfies.
The class was a question and answer session.
'Do you think migrants threaten the Christian culture of Europe?'
Pope Francis recalled that the terrorists who had perpetrated the attack in Brussels had been born in Europe, but had not integrated into society.
POPE FRANCIS
'When there is welcome, and they are accompanied and integrated, there is no danger.'
At the end of the month, he visited the Anglican parish in Rome, where he blessed an image of Jesus. In return, he received gifts of cake and jam.
POPE FRANCIS
'Let us encourage one another to become disciples, ever more faithful to Jesus, ever more free from the respective prejudices of the past, and ever more eager to pray with and for others. A good sign of this will is the “twinning” between your parish of All Saints and the Catholic Parish of All Saints.'
One of his last meetings of the month was with the Catholic group that deals with disabled persons in Italy.
POPE FRANCIS
“You have chosen to be on the side of these less protected persons, to offer them hospitality, support and hope, in a dynamic of sharing. In this way you have contributed and you contribute to make society better.”
The pope devoted most of the encounter to greeting participants one-by-one. He did this in order to set an example that people should always be placed first.
