The pope calls on economists and entrepreneurs around the world to agree on a real human economy

Give "hope to our future for the benefit not only of the poorest, but of all humanity," says the letter by which Pope Francis invites all economists and entrepreneurs of the world to a meeting whose title is "The economy of Francesco" and that will happen from March 26-28, 2020 in Assisi, Italy.

The Pontiff hopes that this meeting will allow him "to meet those who are forming today and begin to to study and practice a different economy, one that gives life without killing, includes and does not exclude, humanize and dehumanize, take care of creation and do not deprive it. "

The meeting will also participate academics and economics experts, engaged with an economy compatible with the framework thus defined. A cadre who, thinks the pope, contains not only those who profess the faith, but "all men of good will," above their beliefs and nationalities.

The event, says Francisco's letter, also will help to "get to know each other better" and to formulate a "common pact" to change the current economy and give a soul to tomorrow's economy: "By a common pact," writes the pope, "we will foster a process of global change that will see in the communion of intentions not only those who have the gift of faith, but all men of good will, more than differences of belief and nationality, united by an ideal of fraternity towards the poor and excluded ".

"Yes, we must" revive "the economy! – underlines Francisco in his letter of convocation – And which city is more appropriate for that than Assisi, which for centuries has been the symbol and the message of fraternal humanism ". "SSan Juan Pablo II chose it as the icon of a culture of peace, it seems to me also a place that inspires a new economy ", says Jorge Bergoglio, in reference to the city of origin of the saint of which he has took the name when he was elected pontiff of the Catholic Church.

"(St. Francis of Assisi) is stripped of all worldliness to choose God as the guiding star of his life, becoming poor with the poor," said the pope. And he adds that this vow of poverty "has also led to a vision of the economy still very current "and that can give" hope to our future, for the benefit not only of the poorest, but of all humanity ".

"In Laudato's encyclical if – remember Francisco -, I pointed out that today, more than ever, everything is intimately linked and that the protection of the Environment can not be separated from justice for the poor and the solution of the structural problems of the world economy "

It is therefore necessary to "correct growth patterns" that do not guarantee "respect for the environment, the acceptance of life, the care of the family, social equality, dignity workers and the rights of future generations. "At the same time, notes and regrets that "the call to be aware of the seriousness of the problems is still not heard".

THE COMPLETE LETTER OF FRANCISCO

(Dated May 1, but published today by the Holy See press office)

Message of the Holy Father Francisco for the event "Economy of Francesco" (Assisi, Italy, 26-28 March 2020), 05.11.2019

Young economists, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs around the world

I am writing to invite you to an initiative that I so much wanted: an event that will allow me to find people in training who are starting to study and practice a different economy, who live and do not kill, who includes and excludes not, it humanizes and does not dehumanize, it takes care of the creation and does not depreciate it. An event that helps us to be together and to know each other, which leads us to conclude a "pact" to change the current economy and give a soul to the economy of tomorrow.

Yes, we must "revive" the economy! And which city is better suited than Assisi, a symbol and message of brotherly humanism for centuries? If Saint John Paul II chose it as the icon of a culture of peace, it also seems to me an inspiring place for a new economy. Here, in fact, Francis is stripped of all worldliness to choose God as a polar star of his life, becoming poor with the poor universal brother. From his choice of poverty has also emerged a vision of the economy still very current. This can give hope to our future for the benefit not only of the poorest, but of all humanity. It is indeed necessary for the destinies of the entire planet, our common home, "our sister Mother Earth," as Francisco calls it in his Song of the Brother Sun.

In the encyclical Laudato if & # 39 ;, I pointed out that today, more than ever, everything is intimately linked and that the protection of the environment can only be separated from justice for the poor and the solution of the structural problems of the world economy. Therefore, it is necessary to correct growth patterns unable to guarantee respect for the environment, the acceptance of life, the care of the family, social equity, the dignity of workers , the rights of future generations. .

Unfortunately, the call to become aware of the seriousness of the problems and, most importantly, to launch a new business model, fruit of a culture of communion based on brotherhood and equity, n '# 39; has not been heard. Francisco de Asís is the prime example of the concern for the weak and the integral ecology. The words that the Crucifix addressed to him in the little church of San Damiano come to mind: "Go, Francisco, repair my house which, as you see, is in ruins". This house that needs to be repaired concerns us all. It is the Church, the society, the heart of each of us. There is also a growing need for an environment that urgently needs a healthy economy and sustainable development that heals its wounds and secures a decent future.

Faced with this urgency, we are all called, absolutely everyone, to review our mental and moral patterns so that they may be more in keeping with God's commandments and the demands of the common good. But I thought to invite especially the young ones because, with your wishes for a beautiful and happy future, you are already the prophecy of an economy concerned with the person and the environment.

Dear young people, I know that you are able to listen with your heart to the increasingly anguished cries of the earth and its poor in search of help and responsibility, that is to say of someone one who "responds" and does not turn your back on you. If you listen to your heart, you will feel like a courageous culture and you will not fear the risks and trade-offs in building a new society. Jesus risen is our strength! As I told you in Panama and that I wrote in the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit: "Please, do not let others be the protagonists of the change!" You are the ones who have the future! Because you enter the future in the world. I ask you to be the protagonist of this change. […] I ask you to be builders of the world, to put you to work for a better world "(n ° 174).

Your universities, your businesses, your organizations are careers of hope to build other ways to understand the economy and progress, to fight the culture of rejection, to give voice to those who do not have it, to propose new ways of life. As long as our economic and social system produces only one victim and only one person is rejected, there will be no party of universal brotherhood.

That is why I wish to meet you in Assisi: to promote together, through a common "alliance", a process of global change that sees in the communion of intentions not only those who have the gift of faith, but all men of good will, beyond differences of belief and nationality, united by an ideal of fraternity, especially attentive to the poor and excluded. I invite each of you to be the protagonist of this pact, baduming an individual and collective commitment to cultivate together the dream of a new humanism that meets the expectations of man and God's plan. .
The name of this event, "Economy of Francesco", clearly refers to the Saint of Assisi and the Gospel who lived in perfect coherence in the economic and social fields. It gives us an ideal and, in a way, a program. For me, taking his name is a source of continued inspiration.

Together, with you and for you, I will appeal to the best cultists and economists, as well as entrepreneurs and businesswomen already committed worldwide to an economy compatible with this ideal setting. I hope that they answer. And above all, I trust you, young people, capable of dreaming and ready to build, with the help of God, a more just and beautiful world.

The appointment takes place from March 26 to 28, 2020. In the company of the bishop of Assisi, whose predecessor Guido, Guido, received the young Francisco at home in his prophetic gesture of nudity, j & # 39; I hope to receive you too. I am waiting for you and from now on I greet you and I bless you. And please, do not forget to pray for me.

From the Vatican, May 1, 2019.
Memory of San José Obrero,