From 19 to 21 November 2020 the city of Assisi will host The Economy of Francis, an international event aimed at young economists, entrepreneurs and change-makers engaged in thinking and practising a different type of economy. The invitation to participate has come directly from Pope Francis, who has today issued a letter in which he invites to the City of St Francis, which is symbol of humanism and fraternity, young economists from all over the world, without distinctions of creed or nationality, to initiate with them a process of global change so that today's and tomorrow's economy is more just, inclusive and sustainable, without leaving anyone behind. The event is organised by a Committee composed of the Diocese of Assisi, Assisi City Council, the Seraphic Institute of Assisi and the Economy of Communion.
The most complex problems in today's world, from safeguarding the environment to justice for the poor, need courageous commitment to rethink the economic paradigms of our time. In the Encyclical Letter Laudato si', the Holy Father recalled that everything is intimately connected and that the Earth is our "common home", and therefore launched an appeal to defend it and all of humanity that inhabits the Earth. He warned us against the careless exploitation of resources and short-sighted policies that look to immediate success without prospects for the long-term. Starting from the example of St Francis, it is therefore necessary to rebuild a new integral ecology, one that is inseparable from the concept of the common good, which must be implemented through choices based on solidarity and the "preferential option for the poor" starting "from solving the structural problems of the world economy."
«Pope Francis' invitation to young economists is an event that marks an historic step forward, because it brings together two of the Pope's key subjects and passions: his priority for young people and his concern for a new type of economy. In his name, we are inviting economists and entrepreneurs who are more sensitive to the spirit of the Oikonomia of Francis (Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis), in order to give young people the best of today's economic thought and practice in the world. The word Oikonomia brings together many realities: the Greek root recalls household management but it also refers to the care of our common home, the OIKOS. We also consider it in reference to Oikonomia as understood by the Fathers of the Church: a theological category of universal salvation. Assisi is an essential part of the event, because it is a city that proclaims a message about a different type of economy. Various venues in Assisi will host parts of the programme, which will be built around the three pillars of Francis' Oikonomia: young people, the environment and the poor», says Prof. Luigino Bruni, Scientific Director of the Committee.
For Pope Francis, the event represents the consolidation of a "pact to change the current economy and give a soul to the economy of tomorrow". It intends to give hope for the rights of future generations, for welcoming life, for social equity, for the dignity of workers and the preservation of our planet. From 26 to 28 March 2020, The Economy of Francis will consist of workshops, artistic events, seminars and plenary sessions with the best known economists and experts in sustainable development and the humanities, who will reflect and work together with young people. In June 2019, applications to participate in the initiative will open.
Full information is available on the website www.francescoeconomy.org
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The full program of the three-day event, which will take place between the Lyrick Theater and the Palaeventi in Santa Maria degli Angeli and the historic center of Assisi, will focus on collecting the ideas and experiences generated around the world over the past three years of work. Speakers at the event include Vandana Shiva, Jeffrey Sachs, Kate Raworth, Gael Giraud, Sabina Alkire, Sister Helen Alford, Vilson Groh and Stefano Zamagni. There will be moments of sightseeing and knowledge of the city such as guided tours of the Basilica of St. Francis and that of St. Mary of the Angels, and the performance "The Dream" by guests of the Seraphic Institute will be offered. On Sept. 24, for the sixth time, Pope Francis returns to Assisi to meet with young economists, entrepreneurs and changemakers. It will be the highlight event of The Economy of Francis. The Holy Father will depart at 9 a.m. on the 24th from the Vatican's heliport and then land in the square near the Palaeventi and drive to the nearby Lyrick Theater in Santa Maria degli Angeli. Welcoming him outside will be three young people from EoF and Bishop Sorrentino, while inside the theater he will be greeted by Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, top civil authorities, members of the organizing committee, representatives of Franciscan families and Pro Civitate Christiana. The Pontiff, at 10 a.m., will reach the stage where, after an artistic-cultural moment, there will be a welcome, introduction and eight testimonies from young people from around the world. Following this, the Holy Father will deliver his address and sign the Covenant with the youth of EoF.
strongly believe that these young people, starting from the Covenant they will sign with the Holy Father, can from here on open a dialogue with the business world, banking institutions, large energy giants and centers of high finance. Through constructive dialogue and effective confrontation, one can really hope to change something. Assisi, from this point of view, represents a place-symbol, a city-message, a spiritual capital to weave this network of relationships, because before economic conversion comes human and relational conversion."
Speaking about the highlights of "The Economy of Francesco" was journalist Lourdes Hércules, who is on the organization's staff: "At the center of the first day are two important moments that we have called 'the harvest,' because they will allow us to see the steps we have taken in the last three years. Also planned are group work and networking where participants will be able to present their proposals and bring out new ones. Opportunities that young people will have begin first of all in the 12 thematic "villages." A space called "hogar" is also planned, to be of co-creation, meeting, confrontation made by young people for young people. Finally, the event concludes with a moment that looks to the future and commits us: a personal and collective pact between young people and with Pope Francis that will take place after a series of stories representing the life that revolves around EoF."
Introducing the "villages" was Tainã Santana, a business administration graduate from Brazil who also brought his testimony. "I am finishing my master's degree in economics here in Italy. I have always felt called by the cry of pain of humanity, especially in the poor and the little ones. In my city there are many homeless people, and this reality has never left me indifferent. During my undergraduate degree I was studying many beautiful aspects of economics and management, but I could not fully understand the meaning as I felt that the human component and a look toward the least of these was missing. When I heard about Pope Francis' invitation to give economics a soul, I felt it as something personal, and I looked for ways to get involved. The 1,000 young people in attendance will gather in the 12 thematic "villages" that will follow the virtual ones in which work has been done over the past two pandemic years: 1) Work and Care; 2) Management and Gift; 3) Finance and Humanity; 4) Agriculture and Justice; 5) Energy and Poverty; 6) Vocation and Profit; 7) Policies for Happiness; 8) CO2 of Inequality; 9) Business and Peace; 10) Women for Economy; 11) Business in Transition; 12) Life and Life-style."
Providing insight into the youth of The Economy of Francis, however, was Aiza Asi, a doctoral student in economics and management. "The average age of the approximately 1,000 participants is 28 and they come from six continents. Three percent are from North America and Oceania, 8 percent from Asia, 10 percent from Africa, 31 percent from Latin America, and the rest from European countries. In terms of context, participants come from the three broad categories: enterprise, changemaker and research. Thirty percent come from the business world; they are, therefore, entrepreneurs, managers, and young people involved in start-up activities or even with defined and/or developing projects. Another 30% of the participants are engaged in research. The others (40 percent) are changemakers, that is, promoters of activities that serve the common good and a just, sustainable and inclusive economy in their respective communities."
These are some figures related to EoF activities in the years 2020 and 2021. In summary, in these two years, two global online meetings with the virtual presence of Pope Francis were held and a new movement of economic thought and practice was born, involving more than 3,000 young economic scholars, entrepreneurs and changemakers from over 120 countries on 5 continents through a process of reflection, engagement and action on the major issues of economics, labor, finance, sustainability, and enterprise.
