Category: News

Briefing Pope Leo XIV on the Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad to Respect and Protect Christians

Last week, I was in Rome for a brief audience with Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday morning and a meeting the next day with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state.

The audience with the Pope was to brief him on the covenants of the Prophet Muhammad, given more than 1,300 years ago to respect and protect Christians and Jews.

Informed by the astute guidance of Cardinal Silvano Tomasi, the Caux Round Table has provided good offices for six years now to an interreligious study of those covenants and to consideration of how they now provide our global community with a precedent for respectful and peaceful relations among the Abrahamic faiths in the Middle East and across the world.  Our study has led to the publication of four books and two most important academic articles by our Muslim colleagues.

We had met with the late Pope Francis, who had strongly endorsed our study, to inform him of our findings and conclusions and we had kept him closely informed of what we were learning from the study of ancient texts and histories.  Last week’s meeting with the Pope was our first opportunity to tell the new Pontiff about the Prophet’s covenants and their implications for our time.

Pope Leo was surprised to learn of the covenants.  I was quite impressed at how so very quickly he took into account 1) the implications of the fact that the Prophet Muhammad had given such favorable consideration to Christians and Jews and 2) the relevance of that precedent for interreligious relations – and the end of violent conflict – in our world today.

I closed our brief exchange by informing the Pope of the plans of our colleagues in Lebanon to work with leaders of the different religious communities to revive the practice of the Prophet Muhammad to give covenants, one faith to another, of respect and protection of the other in order to firmly establish peaceful and fruitful cross-community relationships for the years to come.  He smiled at me and nodded his head a bit as he thought about that prospect.

Here are a few photos of our meeting with Pope Leo from the Vatican Photo Service:


The next day, Cardinal Tomasi and I met with Cardinal Parolin to report on our exchange with the Pope and brief him on the proposed revival of covenanting in Lebanon:
The Cardinal was most pleased at the prospect and said that a ceremony at the Vatican to celebrate such covenant agreement would be most appropriate.

So, now our focus on the covenants of the Prophet Muhammad turns from study to action, action informed by study and piety and most necessarily, motivated by the most noble sentiments privileging peace on earth and reflecting good will to all humanity.

A Most Significant Anniversary

Two hundred and fifty years ago today, March 9, 1776, Adam Smith’s most influential book, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (more commonly known as The Wealth of Nations), was published.

To mark the anniversary and to honor the almost miraculous intellectual and so indirectly, the policy contributions of a great mind, the Caux Round Table has published, with De Gruyter Brill, a book of essays on the book:

To learn more and/or purchase a copy, please click here.

January 2026 Pegasus Now Available!

A little belatedly, here is January Pegasus.

Two hundred and fifty years ago this coming March 9, Adam Smith’s most influential book, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (more commonly known as The Wealth of Nations), was published.  To mark that anniversary and to honor the almost miraculous intellectual and so indirectly, the policy contributions of a great mind, the Caux Round Table is publishing, with De Gruyter Brill, a book of essays on the book.  As the editor, I wrote the introduction, part of which we include in this month’s issue.

Secondly, Michael Hartoonian writes about another monumental event which will be commemorated later this year – the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence – and how it relates to Smith’s work.

Lastly, we include our 2025 year in review (annual report).

As always, I would be most interested in your thoughts and feedback.

Announcement: A New Book on the Birth of Moral Capitalism

On March 9, 1776, a book written by Adam Smith was published.  Its title was An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.  Smith’s observations on how human societies can become self-sustaining in wealth creation – a phenomenon new to the human experience – have produced more wealth for more people than any other human social-cultural orientation.
What humanity has done with that wealth raises many questions of ethics and justice.

But more than just wealth creation, Smith’s capitalism gave rise to modern society – mass everything –  sewers and flush toilets, running hot water, longer lifespans, literacy, compound growth in scientific knowledge and productivity per person, better food, less disease, middle classes upholding constitutional democracies and the rule of law, airplanes (and tanks and bombs), computers, cell phones, Talor Swift and Blackpink providing entertainment for global audiences, etc. etc. etc.

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the publication of Wealth of Nations, the Caux Round Table is releasing, next month, a book on Adam Smith’s thinking.

Most importantly, the book, published by De Gruyter Brill, opens a new vision of Smith’s achievement by integrating, with his observations on wealth creation, his equally insightful observations on our moral nature – his first book, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, a magisterial treatise overlooked by economists, policy makers and most academics for those same 250 years – a gross error in judgment.

Here is the cover:

The chapters include:

Chapter 1: The Challenge for Leaders in an Uncertain World: The Only Way Out is the Way In (by Karel J. Noordzy)

Chapter 2: Starting a Conversation with Adam Smith (by John Little)

Chapter 3: Towards a Renewed European Capitalism (by Jan Peter Balkenende and Govert Buijs)

Chapter 4: From the Pin-Factory to the Concert Hall (by Herman Mulder)

Chapter 5: What Would Adam Smith say About Resolving Today’s Higher Education Crisis in America? (by Orn Bodvarsson)

Chapter 6: Capitalism 2.0: Sustainable Economics, Ethical Challenges for Government, Business, and Civic Leaders (by Michael LaBrosse)

Chapter 7: An Inquiry into the Causes of Poverty (by Michael Hartoonian)

Chapter 8: How Adam Smith Foreshadowed Modern Social Capital Theory (by Stephen Jordan)

Chapter 9: Capitalism at Scale (by Thomas Fisher)

Chapter 10: Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations: A Discursive Convergence Towards Moral Capitalism (by José Luis Fernández-Fernández)

Chapter 11: Adam Smith – Fundamentalist or Optimist: Self-interest, Sympathy and a Smithian Middle Way (by Patrick O’Sullivan)

Chapter 12: Between Adam Smith’s Self-Love and the Impartial Spectator: Ādamiyyah as a Moral Bridge in Human Conscience (by Recep Şentürk, Fatma Nur Aysan, Ahmet Faruk Aysan and Seda Özalkan)

Chapter 13: Adam Smith, the Moral Criteria of “Self-interest” and the Universal Ethics of the Noahide Laws (by Shimon Cowen)

Chapter 14: Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations and Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato si’: Economics, Religion, Morality, Ethics, or… What? (by Louis DeThomasis)

Chapter 15: The Buddha and Adam Smith: A Dialogue Across Time on Wealth, Happiness and Sustainability (by Venerable Anil Sakya and Stephen B. Young)

They are authored by Caux Round Table fellows and other supporters of ours.

Additional information about the book is included in January Pegasus, which will be available early next week.

You may pre-order it here and can be found on Amazon here.

Please purchase a copy and help celebrate some great thinking on moral capitalism.

Caux Round Table Forms New Strategic Alliance to Better Serve Businesses

I am very pleased to announce our new strategic alliance with a new company, Aretos Advisory, which will have unique capacities to advise companies on the application of moral capitalism in their businesses.

You may read our announcement here.

I would be most happy to introduce you to Eric Mahler, the founder of Aretos.  Please let me know if you would like to contact him.

December Pegasus Now Available!

Here’s December Pegasus.

This final edition of 2025 offers three essays that underscore the commitments and ideals of the Caux Round Table – a quest for a moral approach to capitalism.

In our first piece by Eric Mahler, “Reclaiming the Center: Why Leaders Must Restore What Young Professionals Are Quietly Asking For,” it argues that young people want more clarity in their work. In a sense, they want to feel like their work is focused not just on profit, but also a benefit to the social good.

Next, I write about reflections on our time as one year passes and we enter another.

Lastly, Michael Hartoonian’s essay, “Social Capital: The Path to Happiness,” maps out how selflessness is core to building social capital.

As usual, I would be most interested in your thoughts and feedback.

Sincerely yours and Happy New Year! 

Todd Lefko Joins Caux Round Table Board

I am very pleased to announce that Todd Lefko of St. Paul, Minnesota, has joined our board of directors.

Todd brings practical, organizing experience from politics, business acumen from managing a small trading company, insight into Russian culture and politics and a commitment to internationalism.

He has already taken a lead in application of the Caux Round Table Principles for Government and Civil Society to an effort to revitalize not only the economy, but the prowess of civil society to create and sustain social and human capitals in St Paul.

Todd is president of the International Business Development Company, an import-export firm dealing with water purification equipment, art, linen, kilns and new technologies.

He has worked in Russia for over 35 years.

He was the weekly columnist for Rossiske Vesti, the political newspaper of the Russian presidential administration for 18 years and has written over 700 articles in Rossiske Vesti and other newspapers and magazines.

Todd is on the editorial board of the Russian Historical Reporter and has been the English editor for four Russian books.

Todd is chair of East-West Connections, an international non-profit focused on citizen diplomacy.

He has taught over 4400 students at the University of Minnesota and other Minnesota colleges.

He has lectured at universities in Russia, Germany, China, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

Todd is a fellow of the Caux Round Table.

He was a member of the technical advisory committee for the Almaty Management University in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Todd holds a B.A. in history, an M.A. in public administration and the coursework for a Ph.D. in urban history from the University of Minnesota.

He has also studied public policy as a Bush Fellow at Harvard University and urban planning at the University of Manchester, England.

He is one of the founders of Global Volunteers and has served as their treasurer and representative at the United Nations.

Todd has also been a member of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council, the Regional Transit Board and the Minnesota Experimental City Authority.

Personally Support the Caux Round Table’s Path-breaking Work: GIVE TO THE MAX DAY IN MINNESOTA!

 

The work of the Caux Round Table is unique and frankly, often lonely.  Our world has changed in recent decades and not for the better, it seems.

A war in Ukraine and an uneasy truce in Gaza with yet no reconciliation between Palestinians and the Jews of Israel.  We see, in the rear-view mirror, the past leadership of the United Nations in sustaining world peace, the past enthusiasm for human rights, the past confidence in globalization and its facilitation of harmonization of religions, races, peoples and nation states. The “other” is, more and more, less our neighbor or our friend and so seemingly less entitled to our respect, trust and “love.”

The Hebrew book of Proverbs notes that, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

Who, today, is providing vision so that peoples do not perish?

With our unique and inspired idiosyncratic study of the covenants of the Prophet Muhammad –  overlooked for 1,300 years – we try our best to step up and serve.

Our forthcoming book on Adam Smith, to mark the 250th anniversary of the publication of his Wealth of Nations, is another unique and inspired contribution to a global ethic of sustainable and trustworthy wealth creation.

We are out in front with our monthly newsletter, Pegasus, on how social and human capitals provide for good politics, just government and material well-being for all.

We are not funded by the high and the mighty, but by special people with vision and commitment to the common good.

I think you are such a person.

We are once again participating in Give to the Max here in Minnesota, which is tomorrow, Thursday, November 20, and ask for your support.

You can either donate through our GTMD page here, by mailing a check to us at 75 West Fifth Street, Suite 219, St. Paul, MN 55102 or by wire transfer (please ask for instructions).

Anything you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for being a part of our network.