Economy for the Future. Seventeen youths from different parts of the world read their in their own languages, their message to the world, which they had written together – “From San Paolo to the World” – a real work plan.: “May the economy of 2031 be one of communion, for all of us”. It shows what they believe in, what the dare to hope for, but it is also the result of the journey they have already taken up together.
The seventeen hundred attendees at the meeting “The Prophecy Makes History. Twenty Years For the Economy of Communion” listened with deep attention and interest to the convictions and requests made by the youths who have lost patience with the capitalistic reasonings. “We youths of San Paolo in May 2011, with our roots in May 1991, but more than ever responsible for the economy and the world in 2031, believe that the EoC came on earth in this Brazilian land twenty years ago, also to increase and make our hope come true.”
Their openly-proclaimed ideality was the seal on the reflections of the experts and the testimonies of entrepreneurs that marked this meeting, which was the closing act of the assembly, with 650 participants from 37 countries during the previous four days.
What a happy choice it was to hold this great appointment of the EoC in Brazil. The assembly took place within the framework of Mariapolis Ginetta, 50 kilometres south of San Paolo, precisely in the place where Chiara Lubich shared her intuitions for the first time, intuitions which grew and increased in her after having seen the sorrowful circle of favelas encircling the great skyscrapers of the great metropolises of San Paolo. Not less significant was the decision to link the gathering of 29 May in the Simon Bolivar Auditorium in the America Latina Memorial, a centre, which was the idea of the great architect Niemeyer. It is meant to favor closer relationships between the peoples of the continent, through art.
The EoC has “the potential to change economic life from within, not only of the businesses, but also the families, the finance instituties, and economic politics,” pointed out Maria Voce, president of the Focolare, during her closing address. Remember to keep an underlying condition in mind: “The EoC will have new momentum if it sets its horizons on a united world and it will be able to move the hearts, actions, and enthusiasm of those who are drawn to bet their lives on great ideals.” Then she had no doubt that “a new season of creativity will come, one in which everyone of you will be a protagonist in this great appointment with history.
In support of these passages the entrepreneur, Albert Ferrucci reviewed the fruitful work of the assembly; Rubens Ricupero, rector of the FAAPI University of San Paolo, listed the challenges and the hopes for the economy; the sociologist Vera Araujo brought out the foundations of the culture of giving, and the economist Stefano Zamagni spoke of the EoC as a “renaissance” for the global society.
“We came to Brazil to understand Chiara’s inspiration again,” pointed out Luigino Bruni, coordinator of the international commission of the EoC. Listing the various proposals, he pointed out that “today there is a need for a jump into the future, a surge in each and everyone is we want to look with hope to 2031,” because “the EoC cures poverty and transforms persons, but now it is necessary to also change the economic institutions.”
Reversing the dominant formulation which puts the centre on capital, Bruni reminded everyone that “the primary and fundamental factor in any business or economy is the human person, and their creativity, their passion to make a difference.” Finally, “the EoC was born and is born each day from a charism: also for this reason there exists a profound link between the EoC and youths: the charisms and the youth have in common their hope, and their faith in the future, the great projects and ideals”. The new generations of the EoC are the precious fruit of these first twenty years, but also the guarantee for walking ahead with quick step into the future.
Paolo Lòriga
