NewTuscia – CIVITAVECCHIA – In the homily of Bishop Gianrico Ruzza at the Pontifical Mass for the feast of Santa Fermina, patron saint of Civitavecchia, the appeal to pay attention to the common good, participation and respect for the dignity of people.
The prelate looks with concern at the situation of young people, pollution, the problems of healthcare facilities, the serious economic crisis and the possible repercussions of the closure of the Torrevaldaliga Nord power plant. In view of the electoral consultation, he urges «a renewed desire to grow the citizen community in the face of the challenges posed to us by national and international contingencies”.
«For our city, it is time to focus on the common good. We are on the eve of a very important electoral deadline and participation in this moment of community life, in addition to being a high exercise of one’s democratic rights, is a sign of the renewed desire to take care of the community’s interest.”
A few days at the beginning of a difficult electoral campaign for Civitavecchia and bishop Gianrico Ruzza chooses the most solemn form, the homily at the Pontifical Mass for the feast of Santa Fermina, patron saint of the city, to launch an appeal to the common good, to participation and respect for the dignity of people.
The prelate, taking inspiration from the gospel proposed in the liturgy, stated that if “God takes care of His vineyard” we too, “must consider the valued relationship with Jesus and through Jesus” to “evolve and fully develop the potential included in our life and in our hearts.” They look with concern at the situation of young people, pollution, the problems of healthcare facilities, the serious economic crisis and the possible repercussions of the closure of the Torrevaldaliga Nord power plant, calling for “a surge of dignity and vigor”.
«It should be at the heart of each of us to feel the desire to make the city community grow, in the face of the challenges posed to us by national and international contingencies» said Monsignor Ruzza.
«The first challenge I would like to underline is that of social criticality. I am speaking here of the concern for the little attention that we all pay to the situation of young people: young people who are isolated and not listened to; young people addicted to addictions of all kinds, including gambling addiction, against which there is no sign of an educational policy that removes opportunities for danger from the concrete and daily lives of children; young people who are not put in a position to make autonomous and decisive choices in view of building their own future; young people who do not receive stimuli and proposals relating to time management and life commitment”.
«A second challenge that I share with this assembly: the economic poverty of many people. Every month the diocesan Caritas supports and assists 250 people in their immediate needs; there are over 40 homeless people wandering around the city; work criticalities have increased and the situation could worsen due to the cessation of activities of the Torrevaldaliga Nord power plant. In the face of all the present difficulties, the activity of the third sector which tirelessly deals with social suffering must be praised.”
«The environmental challenge asks Civitavecchia to finally see citizens’ health rights protected, considering the high rate of suffering and discomfort that have manifested themselves dramatically in recent years in a long series of accidents which unfortunately were also caused by pollution atmospheric. The future of the city requires specific attention to sustainable development on the one hand and the circular economy on the other. It requires specific attention to health aspects, starting with the strengthening of hospital structures, first and foremost the implementation of radiotherapy which seems to have been definitively decreed.”
«The challenge of developing economic activities – added the prelate – is closely connected with port life: the developments in political decisions regarding port system authorities could greatly increase the productivity of our beautiful and large port, but they could also , in the opposite direction, lead to a impoverishment of the working activity of the port, with the consequent crisis of the entire logistical apparatus connected to it”.
«The city – concluded the bishop – can and must grow, but it needs a boost of dignity and vigor. I can hope that a sincere commitment on the part of the future elected representatives will enhance what has been commendably done in the years of the outgoing council and increase the sense of responsibility on the part of all the living forces of the cultural and human reality of Civitavecchia to create new opportunities and real situations of “recovery” and “new awareness” of the social and economic value that a strategic city like ours can and must have”
