Can Fraternity Transform the Economy? The Economy of Francesco International Summer School Comes to Germany

For the first time held outside Italy, the Summer School will bring together 35 participants representing 26 nationalities to explore how fraternity can become a concrete principle shaping economic life. Under the theme The Economics of Fraternity – From Lived Reality to Measured Impact, the programme will connect academic research, entrepreneurship, innovation and community life, while also introducing participants to the EoF Fraternity Index, a new research tool developed by The Economy of Francesco Foundation.

(ZENIT News / Osnabrück, Mettingen, 08.10.2026).- Can fraternity become an economic principle capable of shaping the economy, organisations, institutions and public life? This is one of the key questions the international Economy of Francesco (EoF) movement has been exploring since its launch in 2019. Born from Pope Francis’ invitation to young economists, researchers, entrepreneurs and changemakers from around the world to rethink the economy, the initiative has grown into a global community and movement committed to building a more just, inclusive and sustainable economy by placing human dignity, relationships, care and the common good at its centre.

From 29 August to 3 September 2026, this work will take concrete form in Germany through the Economy of Francesco International Summer School, hosted in Osnabrück and Mettingen under the theme The Economics of Fraternity – From Lived Reality to Measured Impact.

The first EoF International Summer School outside Italy

Organised by The Economy of Francesco Foundation, created in 2024 to support the Economy of Francesco community, in collaboration with Draiflessen Academy, Coppenrath Innovation Centre and Innovatorium, this will be the first edition of the International Summer School to take place outside Italy, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to strengthening global partnerships and its growing global community.

An immersive learning experience

Selected from 98 applications, 35 participants representing 26 nationalities will take part in an immersive and participatory learning experience.

More than a conventional academic programme, the Summer School combines lectures, participant presentations, poster sessions, collaborative workshops, encounters with local institutions and spiritual reflections. Through the Fraternity Challenge, participants will also develop practical proposals inspired by the principles explored during the week, in response to real-world challenges.

A new milestone: the EoF Fraternity Index

Participants will also be introduced for the first time to the EoF Fraternity Index, an innovative research tool developed by The Economy of Francesco Foundation to measure fraternity within and between national economies, offering new ways to understand economic development through the lens of fraternity.

An international community of researchers, entrepreneurs and changemakers

The diversity of participants is at the heart of the experience. Researchers, academics, entrepreneurs and social changemakers from different countries, disciplines and professional backgrounds will learn from one another while exploring shared responses to today’s economic and social challenges.

One participant, a PhD researcher exploring the history of economic thought, hopes to «deepen interdisciplinary understanding of civil economy,» while an organic farmer and entrepreneur from India brings the conviction that «fraternity exists across the entire ecosystem.»

The programme features leading scholars and practitioners, including Luigino Bruni, Helen Alford, Paolo Santori, Felix Osterheider, Maren Wilmes and Henning Müller, alongside representatives from research institutions, businesses, civil society organisations and local public institutions.

Programme: francescoeconomy.org/summer-school-2026/

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