Thursday, February 6, 2020

Greetings for the Union of International Exhibitions

This morning at the Vatican, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience those who are participating in the UFI - Global Ceo Summit (Union of International Exhibitions), which gathers administrators, delegates and presidents from the most important organizers of trade fairs and events in the world.  The Summit is taking place in Rome from 5 to 7 February of this year.


Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
addressed to those participating in the
UFI - Global Ceo Summit

Dear friends,

I welcome you on the occasion of your World Summit. This meeting is taking place in Rome, a city of faith and culture, a meeting place for peoples and ideas through the ages. As a leader in the trade fair sector and large trade shows, you have come here not only as professionals of the organization, but because through your work you seek to contribute to a more just and humane global economy.

In our increasingly close world, we become increasingly aware that the different aspects of our life and our activities - including social, cultural and ecological activities - are closely related to each other (cf Laudato si ', 137). This interconnection has inspired, within the company, the establishment of environmental, social and governance structures that can guide and evaluate the overall impact of economic and commercial activities. In the case of your professional field, it has been found that fairs and exhibitions not only have positive effects on regional economies and labor markets, but they also offer significant opportunities to show the whole world the rich diversity and beauty of local cultures and ecosystems.

In particular, international exhibitions contribute to the growth of a culture of encounter, which strengthens the bonds of solidarity and promotes mutual enrichment among the members of the human family (cf Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium, 220). Your work therefore has a dimension that transcends it. As a service to the common good, it should promote inclusion, the care of the common home and the integral development of individuals and peoples. These ethical concerns are not secondary, but essential to building an economy in which financial returns are not the only variable to measure success.

Experience has taught you that, in the preparation and construction of fairs, all the building blocks must contribute harmoniously, from human actors to construction materials and lighting, to plants and waste management. The greater the cooperation at local and international levels, the greater the chances of success, both economically and humanly. The fairs that support local economies, involve their respective workforces, give value and relevance to their respective cultures and scrupulously respect their human and environmental ecology, in the end they will have more success and renown. They will have a positive impact and an attraction both locally and globally.

Due to the very nature of a large-scale exhibition, a complex network of operators is needed, drawing on a wide range of organizers, local authorities, workers, commercial industries, civil entities, and so on. Despite the many difficulties that may arise during the preparation and realization of the fairs and exhibitions that fall within your specific competence, these events are able to create a network of good human relationships, capable of lasting well beyond the event itself. You can be rightly proud of your initiatives when they generate a more solid awareness at the service of the common good and integral development.

Dear friends, I offer you my best wishes for your commitment in order to promote creativity and innovation in your sector. I invoke God's blessing on your work these days, on each of you and your families. I pray for you. May God bless you all. And please, I ask you to pray for me. Thank you.
Testo originale nella lingua italiana

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