Diocesan leader attends Vatican ethical investment gathering

Hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the “Faith Consistent Investing for a Global Church” conference brought together bishops conferences, religious institutions and investment practitioners to advance the implementation of Mensuram Bonam – a guide for aligning financial stewardship with the mission and teachings of the Church.

The discussions focused on how Catholic institutions across the world are working to put these principles into practice.

A consistent framework is emerging across countries, built around three key elements: Exclusions – avoiding investments in activities that conflict with Catholic teaching;  Engagement – actively working with companies to encourage responsible and ethical behaviour; Enhancement – proactively investing in organisations that contribute positively to society and the common good.

International research and experience shared at the gathering revealed that it is possible to remain faithful to these principles while still achieving sustainable financial outcomes over time.

Beyond the technical discussions, the gathering was shaped by a broader vision – that economic decisions must always be oriented toward the good of all, grounded in human dignity and attentive to those most vulnerable.

Outcomes from the event are set to include the launch of new faith aligned investment funds both here in Oceania and internationally; improved benchmarking, training and resource development on Catholic investment standards; and strengthened collaboration to support the Holy Father’s work in shaping the development of artificial intelligence in a manner that is ethical and promotes human dignity, as highlighted in his new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas.

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