Ambrosian Diocese

Social cohesion and sustainability, the role of business

Monsignor Delpini: in the face of challenges, alliances serve to encourage the path

3' min read

3' min read

Designing the future by building the common good: this was discussed yesterday in Milan, at the Catholic University, during the conference 'Social Dialogue, Business, Participation', promoted by the Office for Social and Labour Pastoral Care of the Ambrosian Diocese, with the intervention, among others, of the Archbishop of Milan, Monsignor Mario Delpini.

'In a context of rapid global changes and growing social challenges,' explained the director of the diocesan office, Fr Nazario Costante, introducing the morning, 'it is crucial to rethink the role of businesses and organisations in building an economic model that not only responds to emergencies, but also promotes integral human development, social cohesion and sustainability. The economy must be at the service of the person and the common good, favouring the dignity of work and workers, through processes of social and environmental sustainability, job security, harmony between work and family life, protection of the rights of women and young people, and a spirit of subsidiarity'.

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Only through constructive social dialogue, the following speakers confirmed, is it possible to remove the barriers that hinder the common good, because it is together, by uniting different perspectives, that broad visions and lasting solutions can be created.

This was the common thread running through the two papers given by Professor Antonella Occhino, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, who illustrated how the regulatory framework can foster cooperation between businesses and communities, and Professor Giovanni Marseguerra, Director of the Teaching and Learning Lab (TeLe Lab) at the same Catholic University, who analysed the economic aspects of social dialogue.

Different perspectives and points of view gathered at the same table in the following multi-voice dialogue on experiences and perspectives of participation: the regional representatives of Confindustria Lombardia, Cna, Cisl, Confcommercio and Confcooperative Federsolidarietà spoke about it.

In his speech, entitled 'Generators of Hope: Enterprise and the Common Good', the Archbishop of Milan relaunched some central themes of his magisterium, for example that of trust.

'Social dialogue asks for trust, but trust is a gift that asks to be mutually offered,' said the archbishop. This means turning one's gaze with benevolence towards the other. Trusting, approaching the other, putting one's hope in the other's hands. Expressing gratitude, believing in the promise that the other is for you'. Monsignor Delpini then offered those present a perspective based on another key word that is very dear to him, 'alliance': 'Faced with the many challenges that the situation presents, alliances are a way to encourage the journey. To imagine the future not as a threat but as a responsibility. To experience complexity not as a cause for bewilderment but as an invitation to wisdom'.

The acting secretary general of Confindustria Lombardia, Alina Candu, emphasised at the meeting that 'in Lombardy, companies are very clear about their role as social actors. Companies are well aware that they do not operate in a vacuum and that they are closely interconnected with the natural resources, workers and communities of the territories in which they operate. Investing in the common good, therefore, means protecting the foundations on which the company itself is based because social welfare is closely linked to economic welfare. This role is even more evident in relation to phases of change: from environmental responsibility to social responsibility, real change can only come from companies through their ability to involve suppliers, consumers, employees, investors and even competitors'.

R.L.

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