Pope Francis and the Life Economy

By John Perkins

I’m feeling very liberated now that it’s been a couple of months since I, like so many others, have been vaccinated. I’ve been going to restaurants and movie theaters. I frequent the bar at that favorite bistro of mine where I continue to play the “through the looking-glass” game with Juan. 

Several couples were dining at their tables, but I had the bar to myself—well, myself and the man in the mirror. 

Two women were talking over glasses of wine at a table near the far end of the bar. One of them smiled at me. She looked vaguely familiar. 

Caught staring, I lifted my beer to her and her friend and watched Juan in the mirror on his bar stool do the same. She returned the gesture; the other woman seemed not to notice. I broke my gaze and turned to the matter at hand. “I’ve got to tell you,” I said to Juan, “that I feel like bragging a bit.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Oh. Why’s that?”

“There was a webinar out of Assisi Italy, called the Economy of Francesco, a program supported by Pope Francis. It’s considered the world's largest movement of young economists, entrepreneurs, and change makers. The organizers had read The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man and decided to call themselves ‘Life Economists.’”

“Really? And you take credit for that?”

“Well. . .” The question made me pause. I glanced through the mirror at the women as I thought about the amount of credit I felt comfortable taking. They now were bent over their table as though huddled in a conversation they did not want others to hear. I moved my focus back and stared straight at Juan in the mirror. “They gave me credit for it. Not that I invented the term, but they’d read about transforming the current Death Economy to a Life Economy in my book.”

He gave me a teasing grin. “You think those women are talking about you, don’t you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

He started to laugh, then caught himself and sipped at his beer.

“As I was saying,” I continued, feeling somewhat embarrassed. “I was a lecturer at the Economy of Francesco program. What they refer to as a ‘mentor.’ It was during the height of the pandemic and done virtually. A wonderful opportunity to connect with these highly motivated people from many countries.”

“Students?”

“Aren’t we all?

He frowned into the mirror. “Don’t be cute. Were they university students?”

“Mostly professionals – from businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations. They’d come together at the urging of Pope Francis and under the auspice of Franklin University in Switzerland.”

“I thought you said Assisi, Italy. . .” His eyes moved toward the two women.

“That’s where this virtual program originated,” I said as I watched them clink their glasses together. I was certain that I somehow knew the one who had smiled at me. 

“Very international.” His eyes followed my gaze. “And don’t think I didn’t catch you.”

“Catch me?”

He just smirked.

“International,” I said quickly. “Yes, indeed. The mentors came from many different countries and backgrounds. In any case, they ended by creating a manifesto that carries the wonderful title, ‘Values for a Life Economy.’ It opens with these words.” I glanced down at my phone, glad of the temporary opportunity to take my mind off that woman’s seemingly familiar face and read from the document I’d saved there. “‘We, citizens of the world, wish to improve the state of the world, not only for humans but for all life, as a matter of urgency in the coming decade.’” 

“Nice.”

Both women looked at me and then quickly away. They must have noticed my attention by now. I tried to focus on Juan in the mirror.

“It continues with, ‘the following values are all underpinned by the basic and universal principle: treat others and the planet as you would wish to be treated.’”

“Sounds down-right Biblical.”

“It is. Paraphrasing the Golden Rule.” Another glance down the mirror. They finished off their wine and appeared to be getting ready to leave. “Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.”

The sort-of-familiar one trained her eyes on me.

Damn. Who was she? I pretended not to see her. I was certain I knew her. But how? This was so embarrassing. “Right.” I lifted my phone from my lap to the bar. “The next words are. . . Shall I read them?”

“Of course.” 

The women were rising from their table.

I forced myself to focus on the words in my phone. “The values for a life economy begin with the first step of opening one’s heart. Love, compassion, and empathy expand outward from one’s inner circle. Because we are all connected, we realize that what we do in our own lives affects other people, even those on the other side of the planet. The Golden Rule thus has global implications; it leads us to recognize the sacredness and fragility of the world and to treat the earth and its species with compassion. Ultimately, it leads us to promote a Life Economy – a system that works toward the wellbeing of all life on our planet.”

I watched in the mirror as they moved toward the end of the bar, perhaps twenty feet from me.

The mug moved to my lips. I drank down a big swig and watched Juan do the same. “I’m also proud,” I continued, “that the country where I was a Peace Corps volunteer, Ecuador, was the first country to enact a new constitution that supports the Life Economy. It gives nature inalienable rights.”

Juan has little taste for jargon. “What the hell does it mean: give nature inalienable rights?”

It was a question I’d struggled with. “I think it means providing nature with whatever it needs to thrive. You know, we tend to look at ‘saving rivers’ as meaning doing whatever it takes to make rivers good for humans. Instead, it should mean supporting the lives of the fish, reptiles, plants and everything else that makes a river thrive. The same would be true for forests, plants and animals – all of nature.”

They were now leaning against the bar, paying their bill.

“Makes sense, I suppose, but. . .” 

“But. . .?”

He stared at me. “How do you ensure that it actually happens, enforce it?”

“Well, that’s the point of the “Values for a Life Economy” manifesto. The Life Economists realize that it requires a change of perception – no more goal of short-term profit maximization and ever-increasing materialistic consumption. That has to be replaced by long-term maximization of benefits for every one of our living earth’s inhabitants, all of nature.” I paused to watch him mirror me as I sipped at my beer, diligently trying not to look at them. “The changed perceptions and values leads to new actions and laws. The manifesto lists ten values that support the Life Economy.”  

I peeked at the mirror. The women were walking behind me toward the door. 

He nodded thoughtfully “Please, go ahead. Read them.”

“Ah. . .” I was feeling antsy, wanting to end this conversation, figure out who she was. “But it’s more than a list. There are calls for action and commitments associated with each of the ten. A bit too much for me to read to you. But here’s the link.”

She smiled into the mirror. “Have a good evening.” 

I turned on my bar stool. Our eyes met. “You too,” I said.

“See you at the pool on Monday?”

Oh my god! That was it. During the pandemic we swimmers were forced to register for specific times at the local indoor pool. For a couple of weeks, she and I stood outside together, wearing masks, waiting to be admitted. “Yes. Of course. I’m so sorry. I didn’t recognize you without your mask.” 

She laughed. “I know, I know. Isn’t it great not to have to wear them anymore?”

“Very liberating.” I paused. “Again, my apologies.”

“Not a problem. I always wore a hat. And your curly hair is a dead giveaway, mask or not. No worries.” She followed her friend through the door. 

“See you on Monday,” I murmured to her back before turning once more towards my friend. 

Juan raised his mug. “It wasn’t as embarrassing as you feared, was it?”

“I guess not. She wore a mask.” I had an image of her standing on the patio near the door to the pool in a floppy blue hat as we chatted about our cats. 

I was caught in a daze — and Juan couldn’t resist poking at me. “We were discussing these calls to action... “ He caught my expression and laughed. “Now back to the Life Economy manifesto.” 

When he finished reading the link I’d shown him, he stared intently at me. “Very impressive.” He raised his mug toward the mirror. “I see why you’re feeling good about it. Even like bragging a bit.”

The mug in front of my eyes blocked him out for a moment, but I heard his question. “What do you intend to do about it? What is your own moment of action?”

“I’ve committed to taking at least one action every single day to promote at least one of each of those values. And I intend to write more and more about the need to transform this failed Death Economy into a successful Life Economy.”  

“Wouldn’t it be great for everyone to do that?”

“That’s my hope.” 

I glanced at the clock on the wall. “Ooops. Got to go.” I finished off my beer, reached into my pocket, and watched him hand my money to the bartender.