ABSTRACT
Catholicism and capitalism are closely related, and many of the pioneering economists were Protestant pastors. The Catholic community, on the other hand, takes a different tack, with certain economists emphasizing ethical, philosophical, or historical perspectives as opposed to formal economic science traditions. This mindset, which emphasizes interpersonal connections, social structures and relational assets, is shared by economists of all ideologies and confessions. The “invisible hand” idea, which emphasizes human self-interest and social well-being, is disliked by both the Catholic and Meridian economies. Latin humanism, in contrast, places a strong emphasis on helping one another and the value of the community and intermediary organizations. The failure to rely on the “invisible hand” to convert individual interests into the general good is what has led to the current global environmental disaster. The crisis in Southern Europe is a result of an insufficient reflection on its economic vocation, both similar and different from the Nordic and Protestant one. Europe will continue to be a wonderful collective dream as long as it remains subsidiary and diversified, with dialogue between different spirits, including economic ones.
