Archbishop Domenico Battaglia denounces labor exploitation

During a homily at the Materdomini sanctuary marking the 300th anniversary of the birth of San Gerardo Maiella, Archbishop Domenico Battaglia issued a strong condemnation of labor exploitation and economic injustice. He criticized a societal tendency to measure human value solely through productivity, noting that the elderly are often viewed as costs and young people only as long as they produce.

Addressing the agricultural sector, Battaglia highlighted the struggles of farmers facing unsustainable costs and laborers forced into exploitative conditions. He also addressed consumer responsibility, stating, “Behind a price that is too low, there may be a life paid too little.”

The Archbishop called on the Church to prioritize human dignity over institutional prestige, acknowledging that the religious community itself is subject to judgment regarding how it responds to the suffering of the vulnerable.