Investing for the Poor Symposium, Rome

June 19, 2014

Greeting participants at a Vatican Conference entitled “Investing for the Poor” Pope Francis said the world of finance must serve the interests of peoples and the common good of humanity.

The two-day Symposium sponsored by the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, Catholic Relief Services and the Mendoza College of Business from the University of Notre Dame. As a graduate of the Mendoza College of Business, Sister Gina Marie Blunck SND received an invitation to participate in the symposium with the members of the Roman Curia, officials from USAID, business and nonprofit organization leaders, financiers and social entrepreneurs.

The main focus of the event is “impact” investment, a form of socially responsible investing that aims to generate beneficial social and environmental impact as well as financial return.

In his strong-worded discourse to participants of the Conference the Pope called speculation on food prices a scandal, and he urged Governments to develop an international framework that promotes a market of high impact investments to combat an economy which excludes and discards. “The symposium was an incredible opportunity to speak with and learn from so many faith-filled individuals who have heeded the words of Pope Francis and are finding ways to use their treasure and talent to assist those in need.”