Pope says working on Sundays has negative impact on families and friendships and that priorities in life should be 'not economic but human'

  • Pontiff says priorities should be human, not economic
  • And questioned whether working on Sunday's was true freedom
  • He appeared to have bounced back from a spate of recent illnesses

By Steve Hopkins

Published: 10:39 EST, 6 July 2014 | Updated: 03:43 EST, 7 July 2014

Pope Francis has lamented the abandoning of the traditionally Christian practice of not working on Sundays, saying it has a negative impact on families and friendships.

Pope Francis made the comments yesterday during a visit to Molise, in southern Italy, where unemployment is chronically high. 

While he said poor people need jobs to have dignity, he indicated that opening stores and other businesses on Sundays wasn't beneficial for society.

Pope Francis said the priority should be 'not economic, but human,' and that people should focus on families and friendships rather than commercial relationships

Pope Francis said the priority should be 'not economic, but human,' and that people should focus on families and friendships rather than commercial relationships

Pope Francis said the priority should be 'not economic but human,' and that the stress should be on families and friendships, not commercial relationships.

He added: 'Maybe it's time to ask ourselves if working on Sundays is true freedom.'

 

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He said that spending Sundays with family and friends is an 'ethical choice' for faithful and non-faithful alike.

Pope Francis, 77, appeared to have bounced back from a spate of illnesses which have caused him to cancel several appointments recently.

The pontiff, 77, smiled and appeared energetic during the visit, giving no hint of the recent illnesses that have seen him cancel several appointments

The pontiff, 77, smiled and appeared energetic during the visit, giving no hint of the recent illnesses that have seen him cancel several appointments

He flew by helicopter to Molise for a full day of activity, including a lunch appointment with poor people and a prison visit.

The pontiff moved energetically and smiled often as he greeted crowds. The Vatican had described his health problems as 'mild' but did not elaborate.

At one point during the visits the pope encouraged parents to spend more time playing with their children.

He quipped: 'Waste time with your children!'


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in an ideal world that'd be nice, but in our realistic world, we have no choice when we are so busy consuming and producing to meet consumer demand. If we didn't keep making stuff we waste, we wouldn't be so overworked

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Another one from the dark ages.

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Tell my boss that...

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i worked every sunday for 4.5years in retail!!! People would always say, poor you how awful. At the time I diddnt bother me! Now i have changed jobs and have every sunday off I can see exactly why working sundays is so rubbish! I love my sunday family days now and really dont understand why we need the shops open 7 days a week, at all hours! same as christmas.....why are the shops back open on boxing day, weve shopped all the way through december, why not enjoy the christmas break instead....

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If only I had the luxury of a day off on Sundays.

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he is absolutely right, we have lost a lot from the greed of retail outlets wanting sunday opening, Sunday was a day for walking in the park, visiting friends and relatives, especially the older ones, grannies and grandads and old aunties. seeing cousins and married brothers and sisters. walking in the country side, going to the seaside. what do e do now, we go to the shopping mall, have coffee and a cake browse through the shops but buy nothing. Shopping has become a leisure experience for all and we have lost a close society.

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As a small business owner, Sundays are my busiest day. If I closed on Sunday I would go bust before long. So no, I disagree with the pope on this one

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I like this Pope, he is a man in touch with the people.

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I agree, most of us are working so much now that we don't even have time to spend the money we earn. I think we've forgotten that there are other things out there apart from wealth and the values of family. We really need to step back. Once again I find myself agreeing with this guy!

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We have to ask ourselves what progress equates to and what wealth and happiness mean other than inflationary economics, a larger gulf between humans and lifestyles where we do not have time to fulfill our most basic human needs. An example being such a low birth rate amongst native Brits because we have been conditioned to work endlessly.

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