In a letter signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, Pope Leo XIV has addressed a message of encouragement and guidance to the Christian Business and Executives Movement (EDC), which is celebrating its centenary. The text, written in French, expresses the Pope’s spiritual closeness to these professionals at a time of great social and economic transformation, where fragility and inequality are becoming increasingly evident.

The Holy Father emphasizes the valuable contribution that the Christian faith can offer to the business world. In his words, this faith fosters greater responsibility, creativity, and a profound respect for the dignity of every person. In particular, he notes that today’s major challenges—such as decent work, peacebuilding, the pursuit of social justice, and environmental stewardship—are deeply interconnected. Therefore, he urges the adoption of a holistic vision that enables truly humane decision-making.

“The challenges of work, peace, social justice and the safeguarding of creation are closely related and require a perspective capable of grasping their unity, in order to guide and make authentically human decisions,” the Pope states in the message.

Leo XIV evokes the legacy of Leo XIII’s encyclical  Rerum novarum  , which marked the beginning of the Church’s modern social doctrine. This teaching calls on employers to safeguard the dignity of every worker and to provide special protection for the most vulnerable. The Pope emphasizes that the EDC Movement, born in an ecumenical spirit, demonstrates how the Gospel can act as a force for unity and reconciliation, even in the world of economics.

The message emphasizes that Christian leaders should not reduce business to a mere production or capital accumulation mechanism. On the contrary, they should understand it as a community of people oriented toward collective growth. The social role of business lies in its capacity to promote human development, strengthen social bonds, and responsibly care for the natural environment.

In this regard, the Pope calls on Christian leaders to promote “an economy that knows how to combine efficiency and humanity.” He especially emphasizes the importance of offering new generations not only jobs, but also opportunities for education, personal growth, and active and responsible participation. In this way, authentic development is fostered, exclusion is prevented, and hope for the future is built.

Finally, Leo XIV expresses his gratitude to the EDC Movement for its commitment and encourages it to continue being a leaven of the Gospel in the economic and business world, thus contributing to building the Kingdom of God in the midst of the daily realities of work and production.

Full text of the message: