Pope Francis urged young economists, entrepreneurs and business leaders Saturday to promote post-pandemic development models that involve the poor.
Francis, in a videotaped message for a forum of young people in Assisi, Italy, said the worst reaction once the coronavirus pandemic ends would be to "fall even more deeply into feverish consumerism and forms of selfish self-protection."
Instead, Francis said, the poor should be invited to participate in discussions about creating a "different economic narrative" that he thinks is urgently needed.
The pope pressed young people to help change production systems and consumption patterns to make them more sustainable.