World Economic Leaders need to urgently address social cohesion says Pope.

“The World Economic Forum … provides an important opportunity for multi-stakeholder engagement to explore innovative and effective ways to build a better world, writes Pope Francis in his message to the Executive President of the World Economic Forum who are meeting in Switzerland this week.

“It is my hope that your discussions will take into account the urgent need to advance social cohesion, fraternity, and reconciliation among groups, communities, and states, in order to address the challenges before us,” he writes in his message penned on 17 January 2024.

“In a world increasingly threatened by violence, aggression and fragmentation, it is essential that states and businesses join in promoting far-sighted and ethically sound models of globalization, which by their very nature must entail subordinating the pursuit of power and individual gain, be it political or economic, to the common good of our human family, giving priority to the poor, the needy and those in the most vulnerable situations,” writes Pope Francis.

Over sixty heads of state and hundreds of political and civil society leaders are meeting at Davos, Switzerland for the 54th World Economic Forum annual meeting from 15-19 January 2024. The theme for the meeting is ‘Rebuilding Trust’ and features over 200 sessions with leading public figures. A key focus of the meetings is managing conflict, building trust, tackling climate change and polarisation within societies.

Download pdf Pope Francis' letter to the Executive President of the World Economic Forum (119 KB) .