During his 11-day apostolic journey across Africa in April 2026, Pope Leo XIV delivered a series of powerful messages on economic justice that echo the core values of the International Catholic Chamber of Commerce.
Speaking in Equatorial Guinea on April 21 — exactly one year after the death of Pope Francis — the Pontiff quoted his predecessor's landmark exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, declaring that we must say no to an economy of exclusion and inequality. He warned that the global economy too often prioritizes profit over human dignity, and that the outbreak of armed conflicts is frequently driven by the exploitation of natural resources.
The following day, celebrating Mass in Mongomo, Pope Leo XIV called on authorities to serve the common good rather than private interests, bridging the gap between the privileged and the disadvantaged. He urged political leaders to engage in politics that place the common good at their very center.
Invoking the Church's social doctrine, the Pope emphasized that it provides moral criteria and authentic ethical principles for navigating the challenges of our time, while respecting individual freedom and the autonomy of nations. He pointed to the legacy of Rerum Novarum, noting that exclusion is the new face of social injustice.
The Catholic Chamber was founded precisely to respond to this call: to bring together entrepreneurs and professionals who believe that economic activity must serve the human person, not the other way around. As Pope Leo XIV reminds us, every generation faces new challenges that require new responses rooted in timeless values.
We invite all who share this vision to join our community and participate in the upcoming Ora et Labora event in Lugano, where we will continue to build bridges between faith and business.
Speaking in Equatorial Guinea on April 21 — exactly one year after the death of Pope Francis — the Pontiff quoted his predecessor's landmark exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, declaring that we must say no to an economy of exclusion and inequality. He warned that the global economy too often prioritizes profit over human dignity, and that the outbreak of armed conflicts is frequently driven by the exploitation of natural resources.
The following day, celebrating Mass in Mongomo, Pope Leo XIV called on authorities to serve the common good rather than private interests, bridging the gap between the privileged and the disadvantaged. He urged political leaders to engage in politics that place the common good at their very center.
Invoking the Church's social doctrine, the Pope emphasized that it provides moral criteria and authentic ethical principles for navigating the challenges of our time, while respecting individual freedom and the autonomy of nations. He pointed to the legacy of Rerum Novarum, noting that exclusion is the new face of social injustice.
The Catholic Chamber was founded precisely to respond to this call: to bring together entrepreneurs and professionals who believe that economic activity must serve the human person, not the other way around. As Pope Leo XIV reminds us, every generation faces new challenges that require new responses rooted in timeless values.
We invite all who share this vision to join our community and participate in the upcoming Ora et Labora event in Lugano, where we will continue to build bridges between faith and business.