Pope to World Economic Forum:
human person the centre of integral development
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| European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos |
As the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum got under
way in Davos, Switzerland, Pope Francis urged the world’s public and private
sector leaders of their responsibility for the integral development of all by
placing the human person at the very centre of public policy.
By Robin Gomes
The message of Pope Francis was read on Tuesday at the
annual meeting of the World
Economic Forum by Cardinal Peter Turkson, Prefect of the Vatican
Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
The January 21 to 24 meeting on the theme, “Stakeholders for
a Cohesive and Sustainable World”, is marking the WEF’s 50th
anniversary.
Founded in 1971, the international organization for
public-private cooperation brings together the foremost political, business,
cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry
agendas.
A better world
Focussing on the Forum’s theme, Pope Francis, in his
message, noted that the organization offers the various stakeholders the
opportunity to explore innovative and effective ways of building a better
world. It also provides the opportunity to overcome isolationism,
individualism and ideological colonization that, he said, “sadly characterizes
too much contemporary debate”.
He noted that many of the developments in the economy,
labour markets, digital technology and the environment have benefitted humanity
but laments that they also have had adverse effects and created significant development
lacunae.
Integral human development
The Pope reminded the WEF that “we are all members of the
one human family”. This, he pointed out, is the basis of the moral
obligation to care for one another and of the “principle of placing the human
person, rather than the mere pursuit of power or profit, at the very centre of
public policy”.
This calls for going beyond short-term technological or
economic approaches and giving full consideration to the ethical dimension in
seeking resolutions to present problems or proposing initiatives for the
future.
The common good
The Pope lamented that too often, “materialistic or
utilitarian visions, sometimes hidden, sometimes celebrated, lead to practices
and structures motivated largely, or even solely, by self-interest.”
This approach, he said, views others as a means to an end and entails a
lack of solidarity and charity, which lead to real injustice.
On the other hand, he noted that a truly integral human
development can only flourish when all members of the human family are included
in, and contribute to, pursuing the common good.
“In seeking genuine progress,” the Pope urged that the
WEF not forget that “to trample upon the dignity of another person is in fact
to weaken one’s own worth.”
In this regard, Pope Francis also underscored the importance
of an “integral ecology” with regard to our common home.
While acknowledging the achievements of the past fifty years
of WEF, the Pope hoped that the Forum will keep in mind the “high moral
responsibility each of us has to seek the integral development of all our
brothers and sisters, including those of future generations”.
He hoped that their deliberations lead to a “growth in
solidarity, especially with those most in need, who experience social and
economic injustice and whose very existence is even threatened”.
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