Cardinal Bertone encourages business leaders to embrace gospel values

Mar 14, 2008 / 11:45 am

In a meeting with Italian business leaders and professionals, Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, encouraged the fostering of an authentic humanism for the business world based on Gospel values.

During his comments to business leaders meeting at the Basilica of St. John Lateran’s, Cardinal Bertone said, “It is Christ died and risen who should guide you in your choices and your decisions.  Animated by his Spirit, allow yourselves to be infused in order to pass on the rich heritage of values that you have received, to bear witness with an enterprising conscience that is ever illuminated by the ethics of responsibility and the skills and values that can contribute to authentic humanism in business.”

Cardinal Bertone also called on those present to see work “as a gift, as a true mission,” in which they should display the highest professional morality, “a morality that puts at center of work relationships the protection and promotion of the growth of the human person, the balanced use of the goods of the earth and respect for the environment.”

In an age characterized by the “vast phenomenon of globalization” the correct exercise of business and professional life is needed in order to obtain the fruits of the talents that Divine Providence has bestowed to bring about economic and social progress “attentive to the comprehensive well-being of man and society.”

“The Church counts on you,” Cardinal Bertone said, noting that Pope Benedict XVI “sends you his greeting and his blessing,” because “the mission you are called to fulfill” is great.