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Pope Francis first letter to Young Economists and Entrepreneurs Worldwide
From the Vatican, 1 May 2019 – Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker
I am writing to invite you to take part in an event very close to my heart. It is an event that will allow me to encounter young men and women studying economics who are interested in a different kind of economy. It is an economy that brings life not death, one that is inclusive and not exclusive, humane and not dehumanizing, one that cares for the environment and does not despoil it. It will be an event that will help bring us together and allow us to meet one another and eventually enter into a “covenant” to change today’s economy and to give a soul to the economy of tomorrow. The name of this event is Economy of Francis (EofF) . The meeting was planned for 26 to 28 March 2020 (which became a virtual meeting)
Pope Francis’ video message on “Economy of Francis” (EoF) [Assisi, October 2, 2021]
I greet you with affection, and I am glad to meet you—even virtually—at this second event of yours. In recent months, I have received a lot of news about the experiences and initiatives you have built together, and I want to thank you for the enthusiasm with which you are carrying out this mission to give a new soul to the economy.
Today our mother Earth groans and warns us that we are approaching dangerous thresholds. Perhaps you are the last generation that can save us: I am not exaggerating. In light of this emergency, your creativity and resilience imply great responsibility. I hope you can use those gifts to right the wrongs of the past and direct us toward a new economy that is more inclusive, sustainable and supportive.
To you, young people, I renew the task of putting fraternity back at the centre of the economy. Never before, as in these times, do we feel the need for young people who are able, through study and practice, to demonstrate that a different economy exists. Do not be discouraged: let yourselves be guided by the love of the Gospel, which is the spring of all change and which urges us to enter into the wounds of history and rise again. Let yourselves be launched with creativity into the construction of new times, sensitive to the voice of the poor and committed to including them in the construction of our common future. Our time, because of the importance and urgency of the economy, needs a new generation of economists who live the Gospel within companies, schools, factories, banks, within markets. Follow the witness of those new merchants whom Jesus does not expel from the temple, because you are his friends and allies of his Kingdom.
Dear young people, make your ideas and dreams emerge and, through them, bring to the world, to the Church and to other young people the prophecy and beauty of which you are capable. You are not the future, you are the present. Another present. The world needs your courage. Now.
Press Conference to present the event “Economy of Francis” (06.09.2022)
announcing the Meeting at Assisi, 22 to 24 September 2022
The story so far
The starting point. It is 1 May 2019, when the Pope writes a very inspired letter to young economists, entrepreneurs and businesspeople throughout the world. He invites them to make a “covenant”, between themselves and with him, “to change today’s economy and to give a soul to the economy of tomorrow”. For this ambitious objective, he chooses an icon that for eight centuries has never ceased to inspire and astound: Saint Francis. He gives young people an appointment in the city of the Saint, almost as if to take direct inspiration from the landscape he left his mark on eight centuries ago.
The inspiration and the trajectory. The Pope lays the first stepping stone towards his dialogue with the young. They will be in Assisi not only to debate, but also to visit the places of Francis and to draw inspiration from them. There will be 1000 young people.
The second day, with their 12 thematic villages, they will be distributed in the various Franciscan locations of the city.
Lourdes Hércules says:
Lourdes Hércules says There will also be group work and networking where participants will be able to present their own proposals and encourage the emergence of new ones. The young people will have this opportunity first of all in the 12 thematic villages, which they have already been occupied with in recent years. This time they will do so in face-to-face meetings, which will allow them to work in the emblematic places of the city and of the charism of Saint Francis . . .
Finally, the event will conclude with a moment that looks to the future and demands our commitment: a pact. It will be a personal and collective pact between the young people and with Pope Francis, to commit ourselves together in this journey towards an economy with a soul, that leaves no-one behind. The covenant with Pope Francis will take place after a special moment we are preparing, in which we will present a bouquet of stories that represent the life that revolves around the Economy of Francesco
Tainã Santana, (a graduate in business administration in Brazil) said the (EoF) has developed 12 villages (that represent the work sessions of the community members).
‘villages are often crossroads of roads and paths’, says Tainã. The villages are:
The villages are:
1. Agriculture and justice
2. Life and lifestyle
3. Vocation and profit
4. Work and care
5. Management and giving
6. Finance and humanity
7. Politics for happiness
8. Business and peace
9. Economics and woman
10. Energy and poverty
11. Businesses in transition
12. CO2 of inequality
Aiza Asi gave more information: ‘We have a total of about 1000 participants from six continents. 3% come from North America and Oceania, 8% from Asia, 10% from Africa, 31% from Latin America, and the rest from European countries. In terms of context, participants come from the three broad categories: enterprise, changemakers and research. 30% come from the business world; they are, therefore, entrepreneurs, managers, and YOUNG people involved in start-up activities or even with projects defined AND/OR under development. Another 30% of participants are engaged in research. These are masters and PhD students and scholars in economics and other related disciplines. The others (40%) are changemakers, that is, promoters of activities that serve the common good and a just, sustainable and inclusive economy in their communities’
One example, among many others, is The Farm of Francis.
Set up by nine young people from eight different countries within the village of agriculture and justice, the initiative had a dual focus from the outset: global and local. They started by sharing the pains and concerns about the food system in the world today, as well as all the injustices and challenges experienced in this field. Thus, they arrived at the dream of creating a solution to transform the system towards integral ecology. They launched two pilot projects in Nigeria and Brazil, took part in several conferences – e.g. Georgetown University, the United Nations Food Summit 2021, and COP26, and initiated numerous collaborations. They are still working and will be present in Assisi.
Another emblematic case is the Pacar School Project, in Zambia.
Some of the members of the EoF villages, convinced that education is a crucial element, thought of offering training courses in the field of information technology. They do so in wo local school institutes, which lacked necessarily functional elements (such as network cables, switches, etc). With the help of the EoF community, they were able to launch the project. The first step was to obtain the materials needed and to equip the rooms, and today they are able to offer courses based on the schools’ local network.
Giulia Gioeli decided to focus studies on the Monti di Pietà (pawnshops) and the different forms they took in the centuries following their establishment – not always by Franciscans – the Monti frumentari and the Monti dotali. An important example for the history of our economy and finance, but above all of our society. Like me, many young people over the years have had the opportunity to present and develop their own research and to exchange views with scholars, professors and colleagues.
Another great value of Economy of Francis that will be proposed during the event is the dimension of dialogue and deepening between young people and seniors. We will have the pleasure of having with us Vandana Shiva, Gaël Giraud, Stefano Zamagni, Vilson Groh, Leonardo Becchetti, Francesco Sylos Labini, Helen Alford, Jeffrey Sach, and Kate Raworth, who have been following EoF for some time and who will share the three days with the young people. They will then be involved in village work, private talks and conferences. There will also be six workshops on the topics of education, entrepreneurship, business models, to give a few examples
