杏MAP导航

The 杏MAP导航 with members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative The 杏MAP导航 with members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative  (Vatican Media)

杏MAP导航 to business leaders: Philanthropy is not enough

杏MAP导航 Francis meets with 25 CEOs who are members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, reflecting with them on their priorities as business leaders.

By Joseph Tulloch

On Saturday morning, 杏MAP导航 Francis met in the Vatican with a group of 25 CEOs who are members of the .

Also present was the CEO of the SMI, Jennifer Jordan-Saifi. 

The 杏MAP导航 told his guests that their work of crucial importance, since it 鈥渋mpacts thousands and thousands of workers鈥 and 鈥渁ffects the fortunes of governments鈥.

For this reason, the 杏MAP导航 said, he wanted to reflect briefly on three subjects with them: the environment, the poor, and young people.

His visitors, in turn, presented him with a list of formal recommendations they had recently submitted to the G7 concerning the global 2030 social and environomental targets.

The environment

The 杏MAP导航 urged his guests to place the environment 鈥渁t the centre鈥 of their attention.

Given the climate crisis, he stressed, 鈥渋t is no longer enough to merely comply with the laws of states, which are proceeding too slowly.鈥

It is necessary, in fact, to 鈥渋nnovate by anticipating the future鈥, with 鈥渃ourageous and forward-looking choices鈥 for others to imitate.

鈥淭he innovation of the entrepreneur nowadays,鈥 the 杏MAP导航 stressed, 鈥渕ust first and foremost be innovation in caring for our common home.鈥

The 杏MAP导航 addresses participants
The 杏MAP导航 addresses participants   (Vatican Media)

The poor

It is equally important, however, the 杏MAP导航 said, to 鈥渘ot forget the poorest and the discarded.鈥

杏MAP导航 Francis warned against 鈥渁 certain 鈥榤eritocracy鈥欌, which, he said, is 鈥渦sed to legitimize the exclusion of the poor, who are judged as undeserving.鈥

He also attacked the idea that 鈥渁 little philanthropy鈥 could be considered sufficient.

鈥淭he challenge is to include the poor in businesses,鈥 the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渢o make them resources for the benefit of all 鈥 I dream of a world in which the discarded can become protagonists of change.鈥

The young

Finally, the 杏MAP导航 urged his guests to pay attention to the struggles of young people, who are often 鈥減oor in resources, opportunities, and a future.鈥

He encouraged them to hire young people even when they lack the required experience and skills, saying that 鈥渆very job is learned only by doing it.鈥

鈥淏e generous鈥, the 杏MAP导航 urged, giving young people 鈥渁 glimpse of the future so that an entire generation does not lose hope.鈥

Conclusion

杏MAP导航 Francis drew his address to a close by praying that God might help his guests to exercise their responsibilities well and 鈥渕ake courageous choices.鈥

鈥淚 thank you for what you are doing鈥, he said: 鈥淵ou are pioneers - do not be discouraged, but continue to be pioneers.鈥

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15 June 2024, 15:01