Seville: At the Conference on Financial Development held in Seville, Spain, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations, delivered a powerful call to reorient global development strategies toward the well-being and dignity of every human person, especially the poor and marginalized.
Addressing a gathering that included King Felipe VI of Spain, Archbishop Caccia criticized current models of development that prioritize economic statistics over human needs. He underscored that true progress cannot be measured solely by financial growth but must be rooted in solidarity, justice, and the sacredness of human dignity.
“Development,” Archbishop Caccia stated, “must not be in service of markets or profit margins, but rather must serve the person every person recognizing the inherent value instilled in each by God.” He lamented that many development projects today lose sight of their moral foundation, especially in light of recent international aid cuts, which have disproportionately harmed the most vulnerable populations.
Quoting from Catholic Social Teaching, the Archbishop emphasized that authentic development should be people-centered, seeking to close divides rather than widen them. “Progress,” he said, “is only meaningful when it uplifts those most at risk of being left behind.”
Archbishop Caccia did not shy away from critiquing the current global financial order. He described today’s systems as broken and unbalanced, the result of a long series of policy choices that benefit the wealthy while leaving the poor trapped in cycles of poverty and marginalization.
“Too often,” he said, “these systems claim neutrality but perpetuate injustice. They have failed to deliver equity and have instead widened the gap between the rich and the poor.”
Citing Pope Leo XIV, the Archbishop recalled the Pope’s call for urgent efforts to overcome the deep inequalities that fracture the global community. “We must work to eliminate the divisions between continents, between communities, and within nations,” he stressed.
In a bold appeal to world leaders, Archbishop Caccia urged immediate and meaningful reform of international financial frameworks. The current system, he noted, is ill-equipped to meet today’s challenges and must be reimagined to foster integral human development, where economic growth is not the end goal but a means to ensure human flourishing.
“The Holy See firmly believes,” he stated, “that development rooted in compassion, inclusion, and shared responsibility is not only possible but essential.”
Archbishop Caccia closed his address with a heartfelt appeal for unity. “The time for action is now. Not in silos, not in isolation but as one human family,” he said. “If we are to create a world that reflects the dignity we each possess, development must become a tool of peace, not privilege.”
His remarks echoed the Catholic Church’s longstanding commitment to justice for the poor and reminded the world that development is not simply a financial matter, but a profoundly moral and human concern.