“The first market economy was born in the 13th century in Europe through daily contact with Franciscan Friars, who were friends of the first merchants. That economy certainly created wealth but it did not despise poverty,” said Francis. “Our capitalism, instead, wants to help the poor but does not respect them.”
“We do not have to love poverty,” he added. “On the contrary, we need to combat it, above all, by creating work, dignified work.”
The pope underlined the “spiritual unsustainability to our capitalism,” which he said has eliminated meaning or “spiritual capital” and replaced it with the pursuit of material goods. Many young people suffer from a lack of meaning in their lives, the pope said, and “often find their souls depleted of the spiritual resources needed to process suffering, frustration, disappointment and grief.”
Rebuilding this “spiritual patrimony” must start with focusing on the weakest in society “from conception in the womb to the sick person with disabilities, to the elderly person in difficulty,” Francis said.
“It is not enough to make cosmetic changes,” he said, adding that “we cannot just wait until the next international summit: The earth burns today, and today we must change, at all levels.”
Francis backed young people calling for “an ecological transition” by taking responsibility for what has been done and making sacrifices. Once again, the pope called for the abandonment of fossil fuels, reducing emissions and developing zero- or positive-impact sources of energy.
“Quick and decisive change is needed,” Francis told young adults in Assisi. “I am counting on you! Do not be afraid to bother us! Be an example for us!”
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Other speakers at the meeting included Ralyn “Lilly” Satidtanasarn, a 14-year-old who has been campaigning against single-use plastic in Thailand for the past seven years, and Samuel Lekato, who reformed the farming and educational systems in his community in Kenya.
Young activists for women’s rights in Afghanistan, and others from Argentina and Poland, described to the pope how they embraced his appeal to change their lives and society around them.
The archbishop said that the Economy of Francesco has also created an “Economy of Fraternity” prize for projects that transform communities in the spirit of Saint Francis. This year, the 50,000 euro prize went to a community in Manila, Philippines, that collaborated with disabled people to transform lotus flowers into compostable bricks.
“Some, looking down at us, might say that this juvenile enthusiasm will eventually collide with the powerful structures of the world,” Sorrentino said. “But in history, great things started small.”
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This article originally appeared on ReligionNews.com.
