May your faith guide you, says Holy Father to family businesses

Pope Francis encouraged members of the AIDAF Italian Family Business Association to let their faith guide all their actions, reminding them that "the Church is God's family" and urging them to serve with a "universal heart," according to Vatican News.

"May the gift of faith increasingly guide your presence in local realities and strengthen your participation in the fate of humanity,” Pope Francis told members of the AIDAF Italian Family Business Association.

The 27-year-old organization represents around 270 companies, bringing together 3,210 family businesses and over 10,300 members across 58 countries worldwide.

“The Church is God’s family and looks with sympathy at all that is family-oriented,” the Pope said as he welcomed the group. He emphasized the vital importance of caring for families, future generations, and our common home. “Just as the Church’s mission is rooted in specific territories, so too is your activity,” he added.

Pope Francis encouraged them to spread the values of being a “family” as they work in and for different parts of the world, stressing that "everything is connected." He highlighted the need for a "universal heart," especially in a time when bonds of fraternity are broken and the environment is in crisis.

“Feel that within the Church, you are part of a larger family and a greater mission: the service to the Kingdom of God and His justice,” the Pope urged.

He also called for intergenerational dialogue, both at home and in the workplace, advising them to support their children’s vocation, whatever it may be, and to open doors for those who can journey with them.

Recalling the parable of the talents, Pope Francis concluded, “Nothing entrusted to us should be buried. So, don’t be afraid, and move forward with confidence.”