Seven thousand Italian industrialists to hear Pope Francis

For the first time in more than 100 years of history, Confindustria (the association representing manufacturing and service companies in Italy) met the Holy Father, participating at what the president of the biggest association of Italian companies, Giorgio Squinzi, has defined the "first Jubilee of industrialists". On Saturday 27 February, seven thousand entrepreneurs listened to words of hope from Pope Francis at the Vatican, and they renewed their commitment to building a more just society that better reflects the needs of man.

The Pope, recalling the Encyclical Letter "Laudato sì" confirmed that the figure of the industrialist must be driven by a noble vocation oriented to producing wealth and improving the world for all, but which today must demonstrate even greater strength in his social role. Industrialists must become authors of a new humanism in the workplace, at the centre of which they must give absolute value and availability: dignity of others. The Pope urged everyone to take courageous steps, for a world of work that is inclusive and not exclusive, in the name of altruism and justice.

"The market is not absolute, because there is no liberty without justice and there is no justice without dignity. Refuse favouritism and dishonesty. Entrepreneurs are called to achieve the common good and to be authors of a new humanism. Too many young people are prisoners of precariousness. They are not presented with work requests that give them not only an honest salary, but dignity also". These are the warnings pronounced by Pope Francis during the hearing.

Faith is an element of extraordinary vitality and it is also a reference for non-believers. Without hard work and rightful profit, solidarity is an empty word. We have incredible means available to us, but never as much as today are human beings so alone and vulnerable. The world asks for acts of responsibility and entrepreneurs want to do no less," Giorgio Squinzi said during his talk.

Even various companies operating in the plastics and rubber industry took part in this unprecedented event. “It was a historic day that made the value of a company in society the overall focus”, said Riccardo Comerio, CEO of Comerio Ercole and president of the industrialists from the province of Varese.

"It was an emotional morning. It was not a self-celebration for entrepreneurs, rather a moment during which Confindustria, with impeccable organisation for such an important event, was able to highlight and present in front of the Holy Father the elements that drive a company: passion, ethics, working together. A company becomes great when it is able to transform itself into a family company, a place where staff can collaborate in a project where the value of work becomes central and is used to direct experiences, competence and time for everyone, including the entrepreneur, to construct a community. This is the company: unanimous passion organised in a way that gives the company a social role in the place where it operates", Comerio added, which gives the entrepreneur a very precise role in society: "We are asked to act for the good of the company. If we are able to do this, if we are able to create wellbeing within the company, we are also able to create a chain of involvement that drives with it the satisfaction of our collaborators, that is based on the personal accomplishment of everyone".