杏MAP导航

By Sophie Peeters

Addressing participants of the 27th World Congress of UNIAPAC on Friday, 杏MAP导航 Francis urged business leaders to always remember that success in business is a 鈥済ift from God.鈥�

Their talents as businessmen, the 杏MAP导航 noted, should be directed toward helping those most in need and towards impacting change.

Change however does require courage, the courage to 鈥渄iscern the divine grace in our lives,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 noted.

UNIAPAC is an international organization composed of business people from around the world. Its mission is to advocate 鈥渇or an economy based on the respect and dignity of the person,鈥� while promoting the 鈥渟ense of Common Good.鈥�

A 鈥榥ew economy' for the common good

The 杏MAP导航 began his address with a prayer that the days spent together on the occasion of their World Congress may help them 鈥渞emain conscious of God鈥檚 grace and wisdom鈥� in their lives, in their homes and in their businesses and in their daily interactions.

Reflecting on the theme for UNIAPAC鈥檚 27th World Congress 鈥淐reating a new economy for the common good,  the 杏MAP导航 said this phrase is especially relevant today, as too often economy is unexclusive, dehumanizing and destroys the environment

Therefore, 杏MAP导航 Francis suggested a 鈥渘ew economy鈥� that is inclusive of all, fostering the development and dignity of each person.

Each of their profession of business leaders and entrepreneurs, the 杏MAP导航 noted, must be used as 鈥渓eaven鈥� to ensure that development reaches everyone, especially 鈥渢he most marginalized and in greatest need鈥� in order to contribute toward integral human development.

Work as a means of dignity

During the global COVID-19 pandemic, the 杏MAP导航 noted how essential and low-skilled services workers assured life was sustained during lockdowns, delivering goods and services so desperately needed.

Helping and including those set on the margins of society, including migrant and refugee workers who often perform the most dangerous and 鈥渄egrading鈥� tasks, through financial assistance should be addressed in order to give them 鈥渁 dignified life through work,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 stressed.

Work in and of itself, the 杏MAP导航 said, is not only a commercial exchange between employer and employee but rather is 鈥渁n expression of our creation in the image and likeness of God, the worker鈥�.

This connection between our image and likeness of God and work should also be integrated into an economy of care; care of its workers and its working conditions.

Looking toward the future

Recalling the recent 鈥淓conomy of Francesco鈥� event held in Assisi the 22-24 September, where one thousand young economists from around the world gathered to reflect on a 鈥渘ew economy鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 mentioned major points from the gathering in his address.

Young people, he noted, are too often excluded; their creative enthusiasm can and should be used to develop this new economy of 鈥渢he Gospel.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 highlighted a few major points from the pact signed by the young people in Assisi, including providing an economy 鈥渙f peace and not of war鈥�; 鈥渁n economy that cares for creation鈥�; 鈥渁n economy at the service of the human person鈥�; 鈥渁n economy where care replaces rejection and indifference鈥�; 鈥渁n economy that leaves no one behind.鈥�

Concluding his address, 杏MAP导航 Francis said 鈥減erhaps billions鈥� of young people are struggling to access formal economic systems or even having their first paid jobs.

The 杏MAP导航 therefore urged the business leaders and entrepreneurs to 鈥渃onsider a new alliance with young people鈥� to shape this 鈥渘ew economy鈥� aimed at the common good.