Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo, has called on political leaders and society to uphold the dignity of workers, warning against their exploitation during political events.
“Workers are not people to be used as pawns in political parades; they are a dignified people chosen by God,” the cardinal said during a High Mass on May 1 at St. Joseph’s Church Kanuwana, a parish located in Ja-Ela, a suburb north of the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo.
The celebration marked International Workers' Day, the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker, and the 75th anniversary of the parish.
Addressing the current socio-political climate, Cardinal Ranjith said thousands of workers are mobilized for May Day rallies organized by political parties, often losing sight of the day’s original purpose.
He lamented that the observance has been “taken hostage” by political interests, with workers reduced to crowds chanting slogans in exchange for small incentives such as meals or money.
“Workers are the people who build the nation through their labor. They contribute to the progress of the country and should never be treated as pawns,” he said, urging politicians to engage in “soul-searching.”
Reflecting on the Christian understanding of work, the cardinal emphasized that God chose a humble, working-class family for the incarnation of Jesus.
He noted that Jesus was born to a simple village woman, Mary, and raised in the household of Joseph, a carpenter, highlighting that God did not choose wealth or power but a life rooted in manual labor.
Quoting Pope Francis from his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (“The Joy of the Gospel”), the cardinal underscored God’s special love for the poor.
“God’s heart has a special place for the poor,” he said, noting that Jesus himself was born into poverty and that his family offered the simplest sacrifice at the Temple, a sign of their modest means.
The cardinal urged Christians to stand in solidarity with workers and the poor, especially amid ongoing economic challenges in Sri Lanka, where many families struggle with rising living costs and inadequate wages.
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