Pope Leo XIV Urges Ethical Mining Practices in Vatican Meeting with Industry Leaders

Vatican City Hosts Key Dialogue on Resource Extraction Ethics

Pope Leo XIV met with more than a dozen senior mining and energy executives at the Vatican on Saturday, January 26, 2026, to advocate for more ethical approaches to resource extraction. The private audience, held as part of the Vatican's 'Building Bridges Initiative,' aimed to foster a more structured dialogue between the Catholic Church and the global extractives industry.

Industry Leaders Engage with Papal Call for Responsibility

Among the prominent industry figures present were Mike Henry, CEO of BHP; Gustavo Pimenta, CEO of Vale; Robert Friedland, Executive Chair of Ivanhoe Mines; and Ana Cabral, CEO of Sigma Lithium. The discussions centered on critical themes including ethical mining practices, the upholding of human rights, ensuring decent work conditions, and the concept of 'integral ecology.' This latter concept echoes the framework established by Pope Francis in his 2015 encyclical, *Laudato Si'*, which emphasizes care for creation and workers.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope elected on May 8, 2025, has frequently highlighted Latin America's crucial role in supplying minerals essential for modern economies and technologies. His background, including nearly two decades spent in Peru, has shaped his pastoral focus on the region and its resource challenges. While acknowledging the necessity of minerals for technological advancement, the Pontiff has consistently condemned the exploitative conditions under which many resources are extracted. He specifically cited the extraction of coltan in the Democratic Republic of Congo as an example of practices linked to 'paramilitary violence, child labour and displacement of populations.'

A Shift Towards Humane and Sustainable Practices

The Vatican's outreach, organized by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, seeks to encourage companies to adopt 'humane and sustainable' approaches to resource extraction, while also seriously considering the territorial needs and aspirations of local communities. This engagement signals a potentially less confrontational approach compared to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who in 2018 urged fossil fuel executives to cease new explorations.

The Church's commitment to these principles is further underscored by initiatives such as 'Borgo Laudato Si',' which aims to translate ethical guidelines into practical, site-level engagement processes. In November 2025, the Vatican also released a document titled 'Catholic Approaches to Mining: A Framework for Reflection, Planning, and Action,' providing guidance for church leadership on addressing mining-related issues. The meeting with industry leaders reinforces the Vatican's active role in global economic debates, advocating for an 'ethic of responsibility' that integrates human rights risks alongside traditional operational concerns.