104 Acta Apostolicæ Sedis - Commentarium Officiale

available, and often simply wasted. Likewise, we cannot but be moved by

the many refugees seeking minimally dignified living conditions, who not

only fail to find hospitality, but often, tragically, perish in moving from

place to place. I know that these words are forceful, even dramatic, but they

seek both to affirm and to challenge the ability of this assembly to make

a difference. In fact, those who have demonstrated their aptitude for being

innovative and for improving the lives of many people by their ingenuity

and professional expertise can further contribute by putting their skills at

the service of those who are still living in dire poverty.

What is needed, then, is a renewed, profound and broadened sense of

responsibility on the part of all. "Business is - in fact - a vocation, and a

noble vocation, provided that those engaged in it see themselves challenged

by a greater meaning in life".2 Such men and women are able to serve more

effectively the common good and to make the goods of this world more ac-

cessible to all. Nevertheless, the growth of equality demands something more

than economic growth, even though it presupposes it. It demands first of

all "a transcendent vision of the person",3 because "without the perspective

of eternal life, human progress in this world is denied breathing-space".4

It also calls for decisions, mechanisms and processes directed to a better

distribution of wealth, the creation of sources of employment and an inte-

gral promotion of the poor which goes beyond a simple welfare mentality.

I am convinced that from such an openness to the transcendent a new

political and business mentality can take shape, one capable of guiding all

economic and financial activity within the horizon of an ethical approach

which is truly humane. The international business community can count on

many men and women of great personal honesty and integrity, whose work

is inspired and guided by high ideals of fairness, generosity and concern for

the authentic development of the human family. I urge you to draw upon

these great human and moral resources and to take up this challenge with

determination and far-sightedness. Without ignoring, naturally, the speci-

fic scientific and professional requirements of every context, I ask you to

ensure that humanity is served by wealth and not ruled by it.

2 Evangelii gaudium, 203. 3 Benedict XVI, Caritas in veritate, 11. 4 Ibid.