In his two years as pontiff, Pope Francis has frequently emphasized the need to help the poor.

Recently, he also encouraged Catholics to be caring and conscientious in their business dealings by putting people first.

Profit must never be a Christian’s god, although it is one of the tools for measuring the effectiveness of business choices and the ability of a company to help workers feed their families, Pope Francis said.

“Money is the devil’s dung,” the pope said Feb. 28, quoting St. Francis of Assisi. “When money becomes an idol, it dictates people’s choices.”

Meeting with members of an Italian association of Catholic farm, credit, housing and shopping cooperatives, the pope urged the co-ops to remain true to their original inspiration of modeling an economy where the needs of the human person are the absolute priority and where sharing and solidarity are at the center of the business model.

Venture capitalist Frank Hanna would agree. He believes that just because he’s a Catholic business owner, his faith and values don’t have to be checked at the office door.

“Do we put first things first? The way to practice solidarity in business, such that human relationships are strengthened and human flourishing abounds, is to make such solidarity the higher priority. It’s not in place of profits, but it’s more important,” he said.

Not all Catholics are business owners, but many are investors, especially when it comes to planning for both retirement and giving.

It is, however, possible to make wise choices in both areas, based on Catholic teachings.

“Yes, you can absolutely invest in a broadly, diversified portfolio aligned with your Catholic values,” says Gina M. Beall, lead investment research analyst for Savant Capital Management in Rockford.

“Savant constructs investment portfolios that strive to meet the dual objectives of such investors with: 1) funds that are aligned with the Catholic values as described in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops investment guidelines, and 2) funds that provide broad exposure to the asset classes needed for a successful long-term focused investment portfolio,” she explains.

“Values-based investing has become much more accessible for investors in recent years. Investors can obtain the benefits of low cost investing in a tax efficient manner aligned with their values when working with a financial advisor who has the research capabilities to oversee an investment portfolio focused in that area,” she adds.

Managing one’s own investments can be modeled on the USCCB’s own commitment to “exercise faithful, competent and socially responsible stewardship in how it manages its financial resources.”

Among its goals are these:

â–º Do no harm (avoid evil);
â–º Be active corporate participants; and
â–º Follow positive strategies (“Promote the Common Good”).

Sara Marquetti, assistant director of the diocesan Office of Stewarship Development, recommends a couple of resources to help Catholics manage their savings and structure their giving.

“The book ‘7 Steps to Becoming Financially Free’ by Phil Lenahan focuses on the idea of stewardship rather than on wealth. There is a huge difference in the two,” she says. “Stewardship recognizes that all we have is only ‘on loan from God,’ so that we can use it to glorify Him. Therefore, whether wealthy or poor, one can still be a good steward of the gifts entrusted to him.”

Lenahan helps people reach that goal by taking “the gifts God has given you — your skills, your education, your training, your income — and using them as He intended” to make wise financial decisions.

Marquetti also cites Jennifer Rey of Our Sunday Visitor, who offers an extra bit of financial advice for Lent.

Rey urges people to stretch their almsgiving during Lent.

“We talk about the standard 10 percent tithe, but that is only the minimum, and most definitely not the stretching point (although it can feel like it),” Rey writes.

“Is it hard? Yes. Is budgeting a pain? Most assuredly yes. But it’s worth it,” she says.

— CNS contributed to this story