Vatican Bank Launches Catholic Index with Amazon at 5.22% Weight
The Vatican Bank introduced two Morningstar IOR Catholic Principles indexes covering 50 U.S. and Eurozone stocks, assigning Amazon.com Inc a 5.22% weight in the U.S. index. This ethical benchmark paves the way for potential Vatican‐licensed ETFs as global ETF assets near $30 trillion by 2029.
1. Vatican Bank Debuts Ethical Benchmarks
The Vatican Bank rolled out the Morningstar IOR U.S. Catholic Principles Index and a Eurozone counterpart to track 50 medium‐ and large‐cap firms that comply with Catholic social doctrine on human dignity, social justice and environmental stewardship.
2. Amazon.com Inc’s Role and Weighting
Upon launch, Amazon.com Inc received a 5.22% allocation in the U.S. index, making it the second‐largest constituent behind Meta Platforms. This placement reflects the company’s compliance with the Vatican’s defined ethical mandates.
3. Potential ETF Licensing Opportunity
By establishing these benchmarks, the Vatican Bank positions itself to license Catholic‐compliant ETFs to third‐party issuers. With global ETF assets forecast to approach $30 trillion by 2029, such products could attract faith‐aligned investors seeking both returns and adherence to ethical principles.