Pope praises bankers studying encyclical

(October 22, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI has sent words of encouragement to a group of leaders of the financial sector in London who participated in a private seminar to study his recent encyclical "Caritas in Veritate," “Charity in Truth.” The seminar on Wednesday at Schroders Bank on the theme, "Leadership in the Financial Sector; A Moral and Spiritual Challenge," was organized by Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster. Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, sent a message on behalf of the Pope saying the Holy Father "is gratified to learn that leading figures in the world of finance are responding to the challenge to explore ways of building 'authentically human social relationships of friendship, solidarity and reciprocity' within economic activity." The Pontiff also expressed encouragement to always "promote the integral human development that is rooted in a transcendent vision of the person." Among those attending the seminar were chairmen and chief executive officers from various banks and investment groups.