Austria: The Pope speaks of the value of volunteering

Volunteering ?breaks the rules of the market economy?. These are the Pope?s words at a meeting held in Vienna?s Konzerthaus (concert hall) with representatives of the voluntary sector.

Before his return to Rome, in the last meeting of his three day visit to Austria, Benedict XVI highlighted the important role that volunteers play in society. ?Without the commitment of the voluntary sector common good and society couldn?t, haven?t and will not last?, said the Pope. ?Man is more than a simple economic factor to be valued against economic criteria. Progress and dignity within a society depend upon those people who do more than what is asked of them? he added.

He also highlighted that ?there are those who see and pretend not to, those who see need before their eyes and yet remain indifferent, this is part of the cold currents that flow in our times? and commended volunteers for ?not just being bandages that patch up the social network, but people who contribute to the face of humanity and Christianity in our society?.

More specifically, Pope Benedict XVI defined volunteers as ?custodians and advocates of human rights and of human dignity?. ?Saying yes to a voluntary commitment ? he said, with reference to the environmental themes and to the issues regarding abortion and euthanasia already dealt with during his trip ? is a decision that makes one free and open to the needs of others, to the needs of justice, the defence of life and the safeguarding of creation?.