Pope Francis emphasized the centrality of the common good in Catholic social teaching and highlighted the vital contributions of women during his message to participants in the Pontifical Academy for Life's dialogue, “Common Good: Theory and Practice,” held on 14 November in the Vatican.
The event began with Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, reading the Pope’s message. This was followed by a dialogue featuring Professor Mariana Mazzucato, a leading economist from University College London, and Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados. The discussions focused on creating actionable strategies to address pressing global issues, including climate change, biodiversity, health, and artificial intelligence.
Earlier in the day, the Holy Father welcomed Prime Minister Mottley to the Vatican.
In his letter, Pope Francis described the common good as a foundational aspect of the Church’s social doctrine. He urged participants to consider life issues holistically, addressing their social and cultural dimensions.
“A defense of life that is limited to only certain aspects or moments,” the Pope cautioned, “risks being ineffective and may fall into the temptation of an ideological approach, where abstract principles are defended more than real people.”
He stressed that the pursuit of the common good and justice is essential to safeguarding human life, especially for the most vulnerable, within the broader ecosystem.
Pope Francis celebrated the presence of Professor Mazzucato and Prime Minister Mottley, highlighting the need for female perspectives in shaping the future.
“We need, both in society and in the Church, to listen to female voices,” the Pope declared. “We need different forms of knowledge to collaborate in developing a broad and wise reflection on the future of humanity.”
He also called for the inclusion of diverse cultural contributions to foster an “open world,” a vision he elaborated on in *Fratelli tutti,* his Encyclical on human fraternity.
Pope Francis urged policymakers to translate the concept of the common good into practical strategies that guide political and economic decisions. He lamented the frequent disconnect between rhetorical support for the common good and its actual implementation.
“In our world marked by so many conflicts and divisions,” the Pope said, “it is of great importance to recall the common good, one of the cornerstones of the Church’s social teaching.”
The Pontiff concluded his message by imparting his Apostolic Blessing and asking for prayers.
This dialogue marked a significant step in promoting collaboration between diverse sectors and voices to address urgent global challenges through the lens of the common good.