---
title: Pope Leo XIV tells Argentina that economy must serve humanity, not the reverse
url: https://www.faithfulnews.com/en/pope-leo-xiv-tells-argentina-that-economy-must-serve-humanity-not-the-reverse
published: 2026-11-12T19:49:58+00:00
language: en
section: World Church
source: https://www.vaticannews.va/sv/paven/news/2026-11/paven-leo-xiv-ekonomin-maste-tjana-manniskan-inte-manniskan.html
publisher: FaithfulNews
---

# Pope Leo XIV tells Argentina that economy must serve humanity, not the reverse

Pope Leo XIV addressed workers, business leaders, union representatives, social movements, and academics at a Catholic university in Buenos Aires on Monday during an apostolic visit to Argentina. He declared that the economy must serve humanity rather than humanity serving the economy, connecting his remarks to Catholic social teaching from Pope Leo XIII through Pope Francis.

The pontiff emphasized that work holds deeper meaning than economic production. Through labor, he said, people participate in God's creative activity and contribute to developing the world. He referenced Pope John Paul II's encyclical Laborem Exercens, which describes work as humanity's participation in the Creator's work. He also linked work to ecological responsibility, citing Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si' to argue that technological development must be paired with respect for nature and creation's limits.

Leo XIV warned against workplaces where people are reduced to their productivity and where a few dominate at the expense of the many. He stated that unemployment damages human dignity profoundly, causing not only loss of income but also social exclusion and harm to self-image. He referenced his own encyclical Fratelli Tutti in emphasizing that work contributes to personal development, human relationships, and shared responsibility for society's future.

The pope outlined four foundational principles of Catholic social teaching: human dignity, the common good, the universal destination of property, and solidarity. He explained that solidarity is not merely compassion but concrete responsibility for others' wellbeing. He stressed that Earth's resources are intended for all humanity and that while the church defends the right to private property, this right carries social responsibility. He called for combating structural inequality and protecting future generations' opportunities.

Leo XIV expressed concern that artificial intelligence and unregulated automation could threaten millions of jobs and hinder sustainable human development. He stated that technology must always be subject to ethics and that algorithms cannot replace human judgment or the inherent value of a worker's physical presence and effort. He urged authorities and decision makers to ensure technological progress leads to more opportunities and a more inclusive society rather than increased exclusion.

Addressing business leaders, the pope said entrepreneurship can be a noble calling when marked by responsibility for people and society. He cited Enrique Shaw, an Argentine Catholic businessman who viewed industry as a community of people rather than merely a production system. Leo XIV warned against greed and allowing economic profit to become the sole measure of success, calling instead for prioritizing worker dignity, ethical investment, and environmental sustainability. He affirmed that labor unions play an important role in defending worker rights, combating exploitation, and particularly attending to people in precarious employment and those outside the formal labor market.

Toward the end of his address, the pope urged Argentines to overcome polarization and build a society marked by dialogue, justice, and social friendship. He stated that every work, even what may seem insignificant, holds value before God. He concluded by summarizing the church's social mission as defending human dignity, promoting the common good, recognizing Earth's resources as intended for all, and living in solidarity and subsidiarity, with the goal of building together a civilization of love.

## This story in other languages

- [Português (Brasil)](https://www.faithfulnews.com/pt-br/papa-leo-xiv-afirma-que-a-economia-deve-servir-a-humanidade-nao-o-contrario)