The Economy of Francesco

At the "Franciscan Davos" in Assisi, the pontiff proposes an alliance with young people from all over the world to change financial models towards ecological and social sustainability, without basing them exclusively on profit. Because the current "world system is unsustainable". The pope speaks of a "pact to change the economy together" in the video message at the end of the three days of The Economy of Francesco, the international Forum in Assisi which took place from 19 to 21 November. «No shortcuts - encourages the pontiff - get your hands dirty. Either you're involved or the story will roll over you. It's time to dare».
Started on Thursday 19 November, The Economy of Francesco has had young economists and entrepreneurs from all over the world as protagonists: 2 thousand subscribers, from 120 countries. They "met" in live streaming. Humanity is not "condemned to economic models that focus their immediate interest on profits as a unit of measurement and on the pursuit of similar public policies that ignore their human, social and environmental cost," says the bishop of Rome. As if «we could count on an absolute, unlimited or neutral availability of resources. No, we are not forced to continue to admit and silently tolerate in our behavior that some feel more human than others, as if they were born with greater rights”.

Francis asks young people in particular for a "pact" for a new economic model: "You know that a different economic narrative is urgently needed, it is urgent to responsibly acknowledge the fact that the current world system is unsustainable". He exhorts the children, underlining that "you are called to have a concrete impact in your cities and universities, in work and in the trade unions, in businesses and movements, in public and private offices". Francesco has no doubts: "Dear young economists, entrepreneurs, workers and company managers, it is time to ... favor and stimulate models of development, progress and sustainability in which people, and especially the excluded" are protagonists.


Domenico Agasso Jr
NP December 2020