One of the core messages of the pontificate of Pope Francis is human fraternity. 

In response to this, the Diocese of Assisi instituted the International Award “Francis of Assisi and Carlo Acutis for an Economy of Fraternity.”  

EWTN Vatican spoke with Msgr. Anthony J. Figueiredo, author of Blessed Carlo Acutis: 5 Steps to Being a Saint. Msgr. Figueiredo said, “Carlo Acutis’ charity was very local and hidden. He was amongst the poor of the streets, the beggars, but he too dreamt of a better tomorrow for those last ones of our society. I think that’s where the Saints make a difference. They don’t only think of today, but they think of a better tomorrow.”    

And today the challenge was issued.    

Organized by the diocese of Assisi with the Sanctuary of the Renunciation, the initiative aims to inspire people with scarce economic resources, especially young people under the age of 35, to come together and present a project to meet the needs of the most disadvantaged in their midst.    

Msgr. Figueiredo explained, “Profit is to look after oneself only. Obviously, we need profits in the world, but the point is, what do we do with those profits? And here we have an award that gives people the opportunity to create a new mentality. This is a mentality where we certainly help a group of people often taken from the streets, handicapped suffering from diseases.”    

The award of 50,000 euros was last given to a project in Chad, one of the poorest nations in the world, to support the “Bethlehem, House of Bread” project. 12 poor and needy young people are now working together, accompanied by the local Franciscan Angeline Sisters to build and develop a bread bakery.    

Sr. Roberta Arcaro, head of the Mission Secretariat of the Angeline Franciscan Sisters, explained to EWTN Vatican, “The project started because we collected, let’s say… the dream of these kids who go to school, but the preparation is not enough, even though they go to school and even have a diploma they would not have the possibility of a future. We saw that in that place bread could be a resource, bread production, but the idea came mainly from them.”  

Once again from Assisi the message of St. Francis and Blessed Carlo Acutis gives concreteness in line with the initiative of the Holy Father, who through “The Economy of Francis” has invited young economists, change-makers and entrepreneurs to renew the economy by giving it a soul.  

This article was edited by Jacob Stein.