ROME (Reuters) - Pope Benedict called for perseverance in the face of an economic crisis that has led to hardship and rising unemployment across Europe as he presided over a procession around Rome's Colosseum to mark Jesus Christ's crucifixion and death on Good Friday.
The German pontiff, who turns 85 this month, stood before thousands of people holding candles at the traditional Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) march and listened to reflections on family unity that lamented divorce, abortion and infidelity.
Families from Italy, Ireland, Burkina Faso and Peru took turns carrying a cross around the ancient site associated with early Christian martyrs in one of the main services before Easter, the climax of the Christian year.
"The situation of many families is made worse by the threat of unemployment and other negative effects of the economic crisis," the pope said.
"At times of trouble, when our families have to face pain and adversity, let us look to Christ's cross. There we can find the courage and the strength to press on."
The economic crisis has led to increasing poverty and hardship in Europe and countries such as Greece and Italy have seen a wave of suicides in recent weeks linked to financial woes such as unemployment and companies going bankrupt.
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Looking to the cross will not be helping any family in financial crisis especially if you do in a Church, you'll have to put your coppers in a plate to do so! The Pope again proves he is far removed from reality by spouting this rubbish. Living and working inside one of the richest organisations in the world gives a poor understanding of econimic conditions of the many. Perhaps instead of asking already hard hit working people to put their faith in the ridiculousness of religion, it would be better to have them understand that they need not live like this at all.
SussexSocialist
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