At midday today, in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the businesspeople participating in a Meeting on the occasion of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

The following is the Pope’s address to those present:

Address of the Holy Father

Mr. President,

Mr. Minister,

Ladies and gentlemen,

A cordial welcome to you all, and thank you for this meeting.

I am delighted that this weekend, particularly today, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and on the occasion of your “Roman Forum”, you have set out to reflect on the Encyclical Laudato si', and to make a more adequate commitment to sustainability. I heartily thank Mr. Peter Kurth for his warm greetings.

We follow Saint Francis as an example par excellence “of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology lived out joyfully and authentically” (Enc. Laudato si’, 10). For Francis, every contact with people and concrete things became an encounter with the Creator. From his faith in God derived his mission for justice, for peace and respect for creation.

Each of us also has a responsibility for others and for the future of our planet. Similarly, the economy must serve man, not exploit him and rob him of its resources. Today we are called to make use of the possibilities that technology makes available to us, with a good use of resources, helping in particular the countries most affected by poverty and degradation to take the path of renewal and sustainable and integral development.

My hope is that the men and women of our time, recognizing each other as sons and daughters of the Father and Creator who is in heaven, will contribute ever more and more concretely so that everyone can share the precious resources of the earth. I encourage you to continue to give your specific contribution for this purpose, and for this I invoke the blessing of the Lord on you and your work. Many thanks and pray for me!