Poverty to eradicate and poverty as an option
There is a kind of poverty that one succumbs to, which should be eradicated; it is synonymous with misery, which is unjust and inhuman. But “there exists another kind of poverty, the kind a person freely chooses, one that is the premise to defeating misery.” This is the vision of poverty and wealth which has developed from the experience of the Economy of Communion throughout its 13-year history in different parts of the world. This was the subject developed by Professor Luigino Bruni, political economics expert and one of the directors of the Economy of Communion Movement. “All that I have and am has been given to me, therefore I should give it in return,” Prof. Bruni added. Here lies the root of the option to share, and this is how “goods can turn into bridges.”

Timeliness of the EoC experience
Chiara Lubich pointed this out, saying that “it can invert the course of terrorism,” because in union with “other positive forces,” EoC contributes to that kind of brotherhood which makes the communion of goods possible and erases social disparities. “In fact,” Chiara continued, “one of the root causes of terrorism is the tremendous inequality between the rich and the poor countries,” which “generates hostility and revenge.”

The primary idea of the Economy of Communion – to bridge the gap between rich and poor
The Focolare foundress addressed over 700 economists, researchers, entrepreneurs, laborers, students and shareholders, coming from such diverse points as USA, India, Eastern and Western Europe and many other parts of the world for their convention at the Mariapolis Center of Castelgandolfo (Rome). She recalled that the primary idea of the Economy of Communion came up in 1991, during her trip to Brazil; while flying over San Paulo, she was “struck by the contrast between the jungle of skyscrapers and the misery of the surrounding slum areas.” It was then that she challenged businessmen to produce profits, destined partly to the benefit of the needy, partly to the formation of people according to a “new” mentality for a “new economy,” and partly to the development of the business enterprise itself.

Evaluating 13 years of EoC
Just before Chiara’s address, EoC’s 13-year experience was evaluated under various aspects: the business enterprises being managed along EoC guidelines are 800, present all over the world, of which 470 are in Europe, and 270 in North and South America.

The Economic Movement
Chiara Lubich had encouraged the growth of a real economic movement which could also be expressed in cultural and scientific terms, of which academic seminars, publications and theses (166 from all over the world) developed over these 13 years “are already a promising start.”
As Prof. Bruni underscored, “Without a new culture, there would be no new economic system.” “In EoC,” he continued, “we can foresee the concrete possibility of giving rise to a new humanism; we can perceive the way to a new economic order which is more just and more inclined towards solidarity,”

A new vision of work
In the EoC perspective, work, too, assumes another significance. Taking the Gospel as a model, Chiara Lubich offered a precise strategy: “transform every working hour into a masterpiece of precision and harmony.” “Make use of one’s talents and aim at perfection.” “Work not just to earn” but “to transform whatever our hand produces into love.” “The receivers of our labor are our brothers.” Jesus considers whatever we do to them as done to himself. “The burden of work, difficulties in working relationships, contradictions are the typical penance which a Christian shoulders.” In working relationships, “Reciprocal love which attracts Christ’s presence in the collectivity comes first,” and serves as a light “to discover together new ways to organize, to include all staff levels in running a business.” In this way, “business enterprises shall become the dwelling places of God with his people, a true foretaste of Paradise.” The prolonged applause that followed expressed everyone’s adherence to this envigorating proposal.

The afternoon program consisted in a series of experiences of business enterprises in different countries.