SW News: On the final day of the Economy of Francesco summit in the Italian town of Assisi on Saturday, September 24, Pope Francis exhorted the young people gathered there to “become artisans and builders of our common home”.

In his opening address, the pope reminded them that they can bring a change to the world. The pontiff added that although earlier generations had left so many riches to the young, they did not know how to protect the planet and secure peace. “You young people, with the help of God, know what to do, you can do it. Young people have done this before in the course of history,” said the pope.

He urged them to play a prophetic role, stressing the need for a new vision of the environment and the earth. The pontiff said that sustainability does not limit itself to the environment, instead, it has social and spiritual aspects as well. To tide over what he calls “a famine of happiness in the modern world”, one needs to pay heed to the cry of the poor and build relationships. The pope also added that spiritual capital is more important than economic capital.

In the town which is the resting place of the St Francis of Assisi, the Holy Father recollected how the founder of the Friar Minors had a special love for the poor. “The Economy of Francesco must respect, love, and care for the poor, for every poor person, for every fragile and vulnerable person.”

The pontiff said that to achieve this, one not only has to work for the poor, but also bring about changes to the economic framework. He very clearly pointed out that this does not imply embracing poverty in a radical way like the Stigmatist saint. Instead, changes to the economy have to be made to tackle the misery of the masses.

Finally, the pope exhorted the young people to observe the world through the eyes of the poorest of the poor, to keep in mind those who toil with their hands and to translate their ideas into concrete actions.