Time/Fortune’s Global Forum announced that Pope Francis will give an address to their inaugural gathering of the world’s top 500 CEOs and Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in an unprecedented meeting in Rome December 2-3, 2016.
Time magazine nominated Pope Francis as the Person of the Year in 2013, the year of his election. This may be the way the Vatican returns the favor.
The meeting will be held in Rome because “Pope Francis plays a central role in the efforts for social justice by speaking out on issues as global economics, the growing wealth gap, and his statement that the ‘distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is a moral obligation.’”
“Time Inc. is honored to present this unique gathering of global influencers…” The meeting motto is: “The 21st Century Challenge: Forging a New Social Compact.” Time hopes that this rare event in partnership with the Vatican will impact the way the world thinks about these global social issues.
Many of these companies, foundations and influential thinkers have a history of promoting or practicing the very things that Pope Francis and the church oppose. But Pope Francis is “more open,” so these people are more willing to dialog with him.
The Vatican has become the “happening place” for high-flying events such as this. In 2014 the Porsche Company rented out the Sistine Chapel for a $10,000-a-plate dinner and concert fundraiser. And in May of 2016 “The Edge,” guitar player for the Irish rock band U2, staged the first ever rock concert in the Sistine Chapel to help fight cancer.
The Global Forum gives Pope Francis the opportunity to get up close and personal with very wealthy “merchants of the earth” and highly influential people. For Pope Francis to make friends with these people and put his head together with them, would lay a foundation for collaboration when it comes time for global and national worship laws and their economic penalties for disobedience. He would certainly need their cooperation. Becoming friends with the most influential and wealthy people in the world – a world that would not normally have much good to say about the church, is a way to break down resistance to Rome’s claims.
“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:17.