Holy Father Pope Francis addressed the participants in a workshop organized in the Vatican by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences in collaboration with the Organization of Catholic Universities in Latin America for which “Changing relations among market, state and civil society” was discussed. His Holiness urged for an ethics that is friendly to man and environment, where fundamental values are not sacrificed on the altar of efficiency.
As reported by en.radiovaticana.va, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “The market must not only be efficient in creating wealth and ensuring sustainable growth but it must also be at service of integral human development.” Further, His Holiness added, “We cannot sacrifice on the altar of efficiency- the golden calf of our times- fundamental values such as democracy, justice, freedom, family, creation.”
His Holiness concluded his message by reminding the participants about the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity of the Church’s social doctrine and stressed that the state cannot conceive itself as the sole and exclusive holder of the common good but by not allowing the intermediate bodies of civil society to freely express their full potential.
