The Diocese of Assisi has announced it will award a 50,000 euro prize to the winner of the 2026 international Economy of Fraternity initiative, reaffirming the Church’s commitment to economic models centered on solidarity and human dignity. The award, formally titled the Francis of Assisi and Carlo Acutis for an Economy of Fraternity prize, is open to individuals and organizations worldwide whose projects promote inclusive and socially responsible development. Church officials said the initiative reflects a vision of economic life that places the poor and marginalized at the center rather than at the edges. The prize will be conferred during a public ceremony scheduled for May at the Sanctuary of the Renunciation in Assisi, where recipients will also receive symbolic recognition linked to the Franciscan spiritual tradition. Applications for the 2026 edition are open until the end of February.
The award was established in 2020 by the former archbishop of Assisi, Domenico Sorrentino, and draws inspiration from Catholic social teaching on care for creation and fraternity in economic life. It was launched on the day of the beatification of Carlo Acutis, whose witness continues to influence initiatives focused on ethical innovation and social responsibility. Beyond the financial grant, recipients are presented with an icon depicting Saint Francis of Assisi and Carlo Acutis and are symbolically vested with a Franciscan cloak by the local bishop. Church representatives emphasize that the award is intended to support concrete projects rather than theoretical proposals, encouraging initiatives that generate employment, restore dignity, and strengthen local communities through cooperation between civil society, business, and ecclesial structures.
According to diocesan officials, the Economy of Fraternity prize seeks to highlight grassroots solutions emerging from communities often overlooked in global economic systems. Monsignor Anthony J. Figueiredo, who oversees international relations for the Diocese of Assisi, said the award recognizes projects that enable disadvantaged people to become active participants in their own economic development. Since its inception, more than 160 initiatives from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania have been submitted for consideration, reflecting a growing global interest in alternative economic approaches. While early editions saw more submissions from Europe, recent years have brought increased participation from poorer and less visible regions. Organizers view this shift as a sign that the award is reaching communities most in need of support and recognition.
Past recipients of the prize include projects from Brazil, Chad, the Philippines, Italy, and India, many of which focus on training, sustainable production, and local entrepreneurship. Last year’s winner supported women and young people through skills development and partnerships with local businesses, helping participants achieve financial independence. Church leaders say these initiatives demonstrate that economic activity rooted in fraternity can offer hope in a world often marked by conflict and inequality. By inviting new applications for the 2026 edition, the Diocese of Assisi aims to continue promoting an economic vision aligned with solidarity, responsibility, and the common good, encouraging practical responses to poverty that transcend borders and cultural divides.
