As part of the AIDAF’s 19th Convengno Nazionale, on Saturday 5th September 2024, European Family Businesses’ President Mr Udo J. Vetter and Secretary General of EFB Mr Jesus Casado and President of AIDAF Ms Christina Bombassei along with a delegation of representatives of family businesses had the opportunity to have a private audience with Pope Francis.

According to the Vatican website, during this audience, Pope Francis remarked that, “It is good, it is constructive when courage and responsibility go together.  Action that comes from the heart is bold, it does not retreat into itself, but knows how to look far ahead; and responsibility, then, is the secret of business, a word that means “housekeeping” – “oikos nomos” – and is therefore an expression of care. Care for your business, care for the family, care for our common home, care for future generations.”

Before closing the meeting, he spoke of how to transmit the ‘mystique of the founder/creator of the company’ to the new generations and how to cultivate it and pass it from generation to generation.

Pope Francis captured the essence of family businesses and their responsibility and duty to the next generations.

Thank you to AIDAF for organising this opportunity.