MENSURAM BONAM
Mensuram Bonam was launched in 2022 as 'a call to action' for Catholic investors and urges them to manage their assets in line with Catholic Social Teaching
Mensuram Bonam has galvanised Catholic institutions to focus on how they are investing in line with their faith. Published by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences in 2022, it has led to intense discussions and reflections, and a new movement of faith-aligned investors across the global Church.
What does Mensuram Bonam set out to do?
Mensuram Bonam sets out to provide guidance and principles on faith-consistent investing (FCI) to Catholic Institutions. It is the first call to frame FCI as an integral expression of the Church’s global mission and as a response to 'the call of the Gospel'.
The message is clear: All forms of financial activity, 'especially asset management', should be seen as a gift of God to the human family. As such, they should be managed in a way that serves the common good, respects justice and ethical standards, says Cardinal Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and of Social Sciences In his foreword to Mensuram Bonam.
Tthe document has two key aims:
-
For organisations which already have investment guidelines, the publication encourages them to 'systematically integrate Catholic Social Teaching into their investment policies';
-
For those which have not yet developed investment guidelines, Mensuram Bonam provides 'a stimulus and a model' to help institutions to establish clear investment policies integrated with Catholic Social Teaching.
How has the Catholic community responded to this call?
Mensuram Bonam has generated intense discussions and reflection among Catholic institutions globally. The Mensuram Bonam Initiative Foundation has been established to drive the movement forward and three Mensuram Bonam conferences have been organised, as well as a range of workshops, summits and meetings by other organisations.
Mensuram Bonam conferences
Faith-Consistent Investing workshop, Rome, May 2025
Representatives of bishops' conferences, Catholic institutions, investment practitioners, theologians, researchers and financial professionals from 16 countries came together to reflect on FCI.
'Faith-consistent-investing is a growing movement, but many investment committees are still looking for more guidance'
Mensuram Bonam summit, London, November 2024
As well as coming up with practical recommendations on how to enable Catholic institutions to implement Mensuram Bonam guidelines, this second conference identified the key obstacles facing Catholic and other faith-based investors.
'There are very few investment funds that are consistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church'
Mensuram Bonam Rome conference, November 2023
More than 100 representatives of global Catholic institutions met in Rome for the first Mensuram Bonam conference, witha 'desire to learn from each other to find best practices and to create structures for collaboration'.
'There is a recognition that Mensuram Bonam is asking Catholics to think differently about how we invest.'