Catholic News Service: on Welfare & Poverty

Pope Francis: Meaning of economic activity is well-being of humanity

Pope Francis was responding to a letter Cameron sent the pope outlining some of his priorities during his one-year term as president of the G-8. Cameron wants to emphasize openness in economies & governments through the support of free trade, tackling tax evasion and encouraging greater transparency.

In his reply, Pope Francis said if the work of world leaders was to have any impact, all political and economic efforts and policies must be seen as the means, not the end, with the true goal being the protection of the human person and well-being of all humanity. "In the absence of such a vision, all economic activity is meaningless," he wrote.