A top banker made a case for mining to Pope Leo XIV, who has seen its impact up close

Ilan Goldfajn, head of the Inter-American Development Bank, met with Pope Leo XIV to advocate for sustainable rare earth mining in Latin America, emphasizing safeguards and local value creation. The Vatican has historically opposed mining due to its environmental and social impacts, particularly on Indigenous communities, though Goldfajn highlighted a $4 billion pipeline of mineral projects in the region.