The Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization has called for greater commitment to sustainable investments in a message for World Tourism Day on 27 September. Archbishop Rino Fisichella highlighted the Pope’s call for such investment, noting that it was a “testimony of faith” based on respect for creation. Fisichella also said that sustainable economic activity should promote human dignity, focusing on long-term benefits rather than short-term gain. He added that politics must support creative new paths and discern appropriate projects that aim at the good of all, especially the most marginalised. The message also highlighted the value of art and culture and their preservation.
The Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization has released a message for this year’s World Tourism Day, calling for a greater commitment to sustainable investments. The message emphasizes the Catholic Church’s desire to increase the care of creation, which is an essential objective for people’s lives. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization’s Section for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World, notes that sustainable investment is a testimony of faith based on respect for creation, created and entrusted to us by God.
The UN’s World Tourism Organization organizes the annual commemoration of World Tourism Day, with this year’s day dedicated to highlighting the need for more and better-targeted investments for people, the planet, and prosperity. The day serves as a call to action to the international community, governments, multilateral financial institutions, development partners, and private sector investors to unite around a new tourism investment strategy.
The Importance of Promoting Human Dignity
Archbishop Fisichella insists that sustainable economic activity should promote human dignity, focusing on long-term benefits rather than short-term gain. He emphasizes that the primacy of ethics cannot be obscured by the thirst for profit. Politics must support creative new paths and discern appropriate projects that aim at the good of all and increase the quality of life, especially for the most marginalized.
Investing in and Preserving Cultural and Spiritual Investments
The message also highlights the value of art and culture and their preservation because they enable people to know God and keep Christian roots alive. Archbishop Fisichella writes that the path of beauty is an integral part of the mission to proclaim the Gospel and promote the spiritual growth of believers. He adds that the duty to protect culturally significant works of art is the responsibility of all.
Responsible Tourism and Care for Our Planet
The message also calls for responsible tourism and care for our planet. The Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization encourages everyone to adopt a responsible approach to tourism, which respects the environment and the cultural heritage of the places visited. It also calls for a reduction in waste and the use of renewable energy s.
The Vatican’s message for World Tourism Day is a reminder that sustainable investment is not only an economic issue but also a moral one. It emphasizes the importance of promoting human dignity, investing in and preserving cultural and spiritual investments, and caring for our planet. The message encourages everyone to adopt a responsible approach to tourism, which respects the environment and the cultural heritage of the places visited. By doing so, we can all contribute to a more sustainable and just world.
