Address of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone at the Executive Summit on Ethics for the Business World

(June 16, 2011) Economic and commercial activity, when carried out along the lines indicated by the Church’s social teaching, is clearly “ethical” activity, since there cannot be a common good without business leaders that we would describe as “civil”, said Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican’s Secretary of State. He was delivering the inaugural speech at the Executive Summit on Ethics for the Business World, on Thursday in Rome. This three day Summit is organised by the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in collaboration with Regina Apostolorum University and the Fidelis International Institute run by the Legionaries of Christ. The Church’s social teaching said the Cardinal has always stressed that commercial activity is essential to the common good. He added that the Church is well aware that the sector of economics and labour is prone to the temptations of selfishness and narrow self-interest. But at the same time the Church sees the world of economics, labour and business in a positive light, as a significant sphere for creativity and service to society, a positive element in human affairs. Speaking on the economic initiative as explained in the encyclical Caritas in Veritate, the Prelate said that the business leader is first and foremost an innovator who generates and pursues projects for all. Business activity is never merely a means or a tool, but part of the goal itself. He called on them to use their innovation and creativity to address challenges of humanism and go beyond the economy and the market. Secondly, business today has to become more and more involved with common goods, since in a complex global economy it can no longer be left to the state or the public sector to administer them: the talent of the business sector is also needed if they are to be properly managed through their commitment and creativity, said the Cardinal.