The Pope is inviting the rich and the poor, the powerful and simple, to put the creative power of human intelligence at the service of the common good, says Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
The Pope’s secretary of state said this when he spoke Monday at a round table organised by the Global Foundation on the theme «Rejecting the globalisation of indifference – towards a more inclusive and sustainable global economy.»
Cardinal Parolin affirmed that since the beginning of Francis’ pontificate, faced with the many difficulties which afflict the world, the Pope has emphasised «the grave consequences of indifference and of the lack of responsibility,» calling for the correction of an economy that causes exclusion and inequality. «He invites the rich and the poor, the powerful and simple, politicians and entrepreneurs to put the creative power of human intelligence at the service of the common good, with a spirit of solidarity and – I would add – mercy.»
«Without forgetting how much has been done in these first years of the third millennium to help people escape from extreme poverty, Pope Francis continues to underscore his conviction that much more still needs to be done, and that in times of crisis and economic hardship a spirit of global solidarity must not be lost. It goes without saying – that part of this great effort is the creation and distribution of wealth. The right use of natural resources, the proper application of technology and the harnessing of the spirit of enterprise are essential elements of an economy which seeks to be modern, inclusive and sustainable. That will be possible, keeping in mind the definition of justice of the Roman jurist Ulpian and of St Augustine of Hippo – “Iustitia est constans et perpetua voluntas ius suum cuique tribuendi” (Justice is the constant and perpetual will to render to every man his due), which the Pope quoted in his address to the United Nations on 25th September 2015, with reference to the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in order to say to those responsible for global affairs that our world demands of all government leaders a will which is effective, practical and constant, concrete steps and immediate measures for preserving and improving the natural environment and thus putting an end as quickly as possible to the phenomenon of social and economic exclusion.»
The Secretary of State concluded by highlighting the importance of the meeting organised by the Global Foundation, which is «an important space for encouraging an increase in global awareness of the serious problems of environmental degradation and exclusion. It will thus provide a stimulus to strengthen the action which has already begun, and is starting to show positive and enduring results. … I reiterate the wish that these days might bring forth worthwhile contributions to encourage an economy which is increasingly at the service of our common home, which is the world as a whole.»
