Bishops in the northeastern Italian Veneto region have urged citizens to vote in the upcoming regional elections, while speaking about the importance of cohesion in a multicultural society. The elections are due to be held on November 23-24.
"The current multicultural society will certainly gain cohesion and security from a careful and wise government of cohabitation, so that migrants are not only considered actors from whom we must defend ourselves or a workforce but as people with whom we can build the future of our territories together," the bishops of Veneto wrote in a message urging citizens to vote in upcoming regional elections scheduled to take place on November 23-24.
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'Fight against poverty and farsighted policies'
In the message, the bishops also outlined as priorities the "preservation of creation and the safeguarding of the natural and social environment", as well as the "dramatic desertification of internal and mountainous areas and the theme of pollution."
"We care about defending life, from its conception to natural death, safeguarding the universal right to health and guaranteeing human and cultural growth pathways for young generations in an educational alliance between the public school system -- including public and state-recognized private schools -- and families. The fight against growing poverty and the commitment to the young and with the young to favor job opportunities and concrete possibilities to find housing require ample alliances and, in particular, farsighted policies," stated the bishops.
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'No to individualistic attitude, inclusive development'
According to the bishops, "in the midst of the current historic phase so full of complexity, conflicts and unprecedented crises, nobody, least of all Christians, can have a defeatist and individualistic attitude. We need everyone's contribution."
The regional church leaders continued: "The integral, sustainable and inclusive development of our region, always starting with the respect and the dignity of people and communities, will also be strengthened by a convinced and meaningful participation in the vote." This, underlined the bishops, "will guarantee that democratically elected institutions will be even more effective and influential in dealing with the issues and choices at stake."
"We will thus be able to contribute, with our participation, to everybody's wellbeing", it concluded.
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