Pope Francis: God’s gifts are entrusted to our care

By Christopher Wells

Welcoming participants in the Vinitaly fair to the Vatican, Pope Francis paid tribute to their decision to reflect on the ethical aspects and moral responsibilities of their work, while noting that they have drawn their inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi.

The wine and spirits trade fair is focused on promoting relationships between producers, buyers, and stakeholders in the wine industry, as well as sharing experiences and skills.

In his address to the group, Pope Francis highlighted the fundamental lines of their reflection, including concern for the environment, labour, and healthy consumer habits, saying these “point to an attitude focused on respect at various levels.”

Respect for the earth and for human beings

The Pope insisted that beyond the application of specific techniques and “commercial logic," winemakers must have respect for the land, the vine, and the processes of cultivation, fermentation, and aging.

“Respect, steadfastness, and the ability to bear fruit"—qualities described in the Sacred Scriptures—"are valuable messages for the soul, which are learned from the rhythms of nature, vines, and tillage,” the Pope said.

Such skills are only partially learned in an “academic way”; they must be passed on by sharing practical and lived experiences “in a way that is more fruitful, the more we allow ourselves to be involved in the human dimension of what we do.”

Pope Francis went on to emphasize that the values required in working the soil are “even more decisive” in the management of human labour.

Gifts from God, entrusted to human beings

He concluded his address by reminding his audience that “wine, the earth, and agricultural and entrepreneurial skills are gifts from God” that “the Creator has entrusted” to human beings to make them a true source of joy for “the hearts” of all human beings.

Finally, the Pope thanked them “for choosing to inspire [their] activity with sentiments of concord, assistance to the weakest, and respect for creation,” following the teaching of St. Francis of Assisi.”