Pope warns of 'very grave sin' when jobs are cut unjustly

Pope Francis gestures as he arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter square at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)

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Pope Francis embraces a statue of the Holy Mary during his weekly general audience in St. Peter square at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)

Pope Francis speaks during his weekly general audience in St. Peter square at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis says employers who fire workers for unclear reasons are committing a "very grave sin" and should ensure dignified work for all their employees.

Francis made the comments at his Wednesday general audience after appealing for a resolution to a labor dispute at Sky Italia, where employees are facing job cuts and relocation as the satellite channel moves its offices from Rome to Milan. Speaking off-the-cuff, Francis said: "Those who for economic reasons or to conclude unclear negotiations, close factories and business ventures and take jobs away, this person is committing a very grave sin."

The audience was marked by an emotional encounter as a small group of Chinese pilgrims approached Francis on their knees and wept at his feet as he blessed them in St. Peter's Square.