Pope Leo XIV urges ethical mining in Vatican talks

Pope Leo XIV met senior mining and energy executives at the Vatican to press for more ethical approaches to resource extraction, and the meeting was part of the Vatican's Building Bridges Initiative focusing on social and environmental justice.

Pope Leo XIV met senior mining and energy executives at the Vatican to press for more ethical approaches to resource extraction. The meeting was private and brought together more than a dozen industry leaders. The article mentions BHP, Vale, Ivanhoe Mines and Sigma Lithium among attendees. It formed part of the Vatican's Building Bridges Initiative, which links economic development with social and environmental justice. Key points: - The talks focused on ethical mining practices, human rights, decent work and the Church's concept of "integral ecology." - Church officials said the Vatican seeks a more active role in global economic debates and urged humane, sustainable approaches to resource extraction. - Initiatives such as Borgo Laudato Si' are intended to turn those principles into practical engagement with industry and communities. - The article mentions senior industry figures including BHP CEO Mike Henry, Vale CEO Gustavo Pimenta, Ivanhoe Mines executive chair Robert Friedland and Sigma Lithium CEO Ana Cabral. - Pope Leo XIV has acknowledged that modern technologies depend on minerals and cited coltan from the Democratic Republic of Congo as an example linked to paramilitary violence, child labour and the displacement of communities. Summary: The meeting signals a cooperative outreach by the Vatican to align mining practices with social and environmental concerns. Undetermined at this time.