ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE: Pope Francis warned yesterday that the world risks having an entire generation of jobless young people as he headed to Brazil, an emerging power facing anger over corruption and lagging public services.
The 76-year-old Argentine, speaking to journalists aboard the papal plane heading to a Catholic youth event in Rio de Janeiro, said his trip was aimed in part “to encourage young people to integrate into society” and convince society not to abandon them.
“The global crisis has brought nothing good to young people. I saw the data on youth unemployed last week. We run the risk of having a generation without work,” said Francis, who carried his own luggage onto the plane, in keeping with his trademark simplicity.
Francis said it was not just the young jobless who were being treated as social outcasts, but also the elderly.
“We are used to this culture of rejection with old people, we do it often, despite the life wisdom they give us.
“They are left on one side as if they have nothing to offer. But today the culture of rejection is being extended to young unemployed people as well,” he said. — AFP