POPE FRANCIS SAYS OPENING BUSINESSES ON SUNDAY IS NOT BENEFICIAL FOR SOCIETY.....

Keeping stores open on Sunday is not beneficial for society: Pope Francis
Pope Francis says opening businesses on Sundays is not beneficial for society because the priority should be 'not economic but human,' and that the stress should be on families and friendships, not commercial relationships.

The Associated Press

Sunday, July 6, 2014, 1:00 AM

Pope Francis appeared to have bounced back from a spate of illnesses which caused him to cancel several appointments recently. FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images

Pope Francis lamented Saturday the abandoning of the traditionally Christian practice of not working on Sundays, saying it has a negative impact on families and friendships.

While he said poor people need jobs to have dignity, he indicated that opening stores and other businesses on Sundays as a way to create jobs wasn’t beneficial for society.

Francis said the priority should be “not economic but human,” and that the stress should be on families and friendships, not commercial relationships.

“Maybe it’s time to ask ourselves if working on Sundays is true freedom,” the Pope said.

Pope Francis, 77, appeared to have bounced back from a spate of illnesses which caused him to cancel several appointments recently.

He flew by helicopter to Molise, Italy, for a full day of activity, including a lunch appointment with poor people and a visit to a prison.

The pontiff moved energetically and smiled often as he greeted crowds. The Vatican had described the health problems as “mild” but did not elaborate.