Cardinal Bertone encourages mining companies to respect workers, environment
September 09, 2013
Writing on behalf of Pope Francis, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sent a message to participants in a meeting of mining-industry leaders, organized by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
In his message the Vatican Secretary of State welcomed the unusual session, which brought together top executives from some of the world’s largest mining corporations, to meet with representatives of Catholic organizations and charities. Cardinal Bertone said that the meeting was a valuable opportunity for the corporate leaders “to reflect on the importance of their human and environmental responsibilities.”
Mining companies, the cardinal said, “are seen, now always without reason, as unjustly exploiting resources and local populations, resorting even to slavery and the forced removal of entire populations.” He said that the companies should ensure the economic rights of their workers and the environmental safety of their mining activities.
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