The Vatican has launched an international project encouraging disinvestment from the mining sector, an unusual initiative by the Catholic Church to steer investments away from a specific industry.
Backed by senior Church leaders and about 40 other faith-based institutions, the new initiative aims to push companies to treat their workers justly and protect the local environment near their operations, or risk loss of investments.
Cardinal Fabio Baggio called the new effort "an act of consistency with our faith with the defense of human dignity".
Pope Francis had made passionate appeals for mining companies to adopt more stringent business practices during his 12-year tenure, but the Vatican had not previously launched a disinvestment initiative.
The project comes as demand for mining products like lithium, cobalt, and copper is expected to triple by 2030 and quadruple by 2040.
