Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

VOCATION OF THE

BUSINESS LEADER

Beirut Conference25-26 March 2013

Pont ifi c io Conse jo

« Jus t i c ia y Paz»

P o n t i fi c i o C o n s e j o« J u s t i c i a y P a z »

L A V O C A C I Ó N D E L

L Í D E R E M P R E S A R I A LU n a R e fl e x i ó n

L A V O C A C I Ó N D E L

L Í D E R E M P R E S A R I A LU n a R e fl e x i ó n

VOCATION OF THE BUSINESS LEADER

“VOCATION

”• a calling

• co-creation

1.Intense competition

2.Need for greater efficiency

3.Increasing pressure to be profitable

CHALLENGES

THE LOGIC OF GIFT

What is needed is the “logic of gift” that can order the logic of the

market toward the good of all.

Businesspeople are called not just to do business, but to be a particular kind of leader in business.

The Vocation of the Business Leader

SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH

Embraces four fundamental values:• Truth• Freedom• Justice• Peace

At its centre is the fundamental dignity of all human beings because we are made in the image and likeness of God.

“An important part of the business leader’s vocation . . . entails seeing clearly the situation, judging with principles that foster the integral development of people, and acting in a way which implements these principles in light of one’s unique circumstances.”

SEEING, JUDGING, ACTING

Seeing

Challenges and Opportunities• Globalization• Communications

Technology• Financialization• Cultural Changes

Judging First Principles of Judgment

Human Dignity

Common Good

FOUNDATIONS

Human dignity: Beyond Individuals to Persons

Common Good: Beyond an Association of Individuals to a Community of Persons

A FRAMEWORK FOR JUDGMENT

The Good Business Does

• Good Goods: making goods which are truly good and services which truly serve;

• Good Work: organizing work where employees develop their gifts and talents; and

• Good Wealth: creating sustainable wealth so that it can be distributed justly.

Good

Goods

Good

Work

Good

Wealth

Acting

Receiving: “The first act of the Christian business leader, as of all Christians, is to receive; more specifically, to receive what God has done for him or her.”

Giving: “The second act to which the Church calls the business leader is giving in a way which responds to what has been received.”

Conclusion

1. Interreligious Dialogue of Life and Action

2. Two Summaries: Businesses and workers are

not commodities! Good business is good for

the common good!