Overview
- The Holy See Press Office hosted the March 20 launch of a global platform encouraging church entities to review holdings and, where warranted, withdraw money from mining-related investments.
- The initiative, organized by the Churches and Mining Network with CIDSE, sets up a hub for research, accountability and coordinated action toward revised ethical investment policies.
- Indigenous leaders, including Aymara representative Yolanda Flores from Peru, described water contamination and health risks and pressed for transparency about who finances extraction on their lands.
- Cardinal Fabio Baggio said divestment represents coherence with Catholic teaching on human dignity and care for creation, noting mining often proceeds without local consultation.
- Organizers positioned the effort alongside recent Vatican guidance, including a 2022 investment committee and new Morningstar IOR Catholic equity benchmarks, while stressing it is an advocacy platform rather than a binding mandate.