Every year, the summit brings together around 100 leaders from more than 30 countries. It has established itself as a key event for top executives in the exhibitions industry. This year, delegates to the summit had a unique opportunity to hear His Holiness personally offer his good wishes at a private audience.

The only attendees representing the exhibitions industry in Russia at the audience were Sergey Voronkov, General Director of ExpoForum-International, Ltd. and President of the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs (RUEF), and Sergey Alexeev, Vice President of ExpoForum-International, Ltd. and the first Vice President of the RUEF.

In his welcoming remarks, the Holy Father talked about the global mission of the exhibition industry, which not only helps to develop the regional economy and labour markets, but also allows more people to study firsthand the rich diversity and beauty of local cultures and ecosystems:

«As a service to the common good, it should promote inclusion, care for our common home, and the integral development of individuals and peoples. Global exhibitions contribute to the growth of a culture of encounter, that strengthens bonds of solidarity and fosters mutual enrichment between the members of our human family. In the preparation and implementation of fairs, all the constitutive elements need to come together in a harmonious way. The greater the cooperation at both local and international levels, the greater their chance of broad success, both economically and humanly speaking. Exhibitions that help the local economy, engage its labour force, give value and prominence to its culture and reverently respect its human and natural ecology will ultimately be more successful and memorable.»

To conclude the audience, Pope Francis thanked the specialists of the exhibitions industry for their efforts, inventiveness and innovations, wished everyone kindness and prosperity and shared a warm handshake with each attendee.