Pope Francis: Not to share one’s goods with the poor is to rob them and to deprive
them of life.
May 16, 2013: “We must also acknowledge that the majority of the men and women of
our time continue to live daily in situations of insecurity, fear and desperation
grip the hearts of many people, even in the so-called rich countries; the joy of life
is diminishing; indecency and violence are on the rise; poverty is becoming more and
more evident. People have to struggle to live and, frequently, to live in an undignified
way. One cause of this situation is in our relationship with money, and our acceptance
of its power over ourselves and our society.” Is what Pope said Thursday morning as
he addressed the New Non-Resident Ambassadors to the Holy See: Kyrgyzstan, Antigua
and Barbuda, Luxembourg and Botswana. “We have created new idols. The worship of the
golden calf of old has found a new and heartless image in the cult of money and the
dictatorship of an economy which is faceless and lacking any truly humane goal.” He
said.
“Worse yet, human beings themselves are nowadays considered as consumer
goods which can be used and thrown away. We have begun a throw away culture. This
tendency is seen on the level of individuals and whole societies; and it is being
promoted!”, he lamented.
Recalling the words of Saint John Chrysostom, he
said “Not to share one’s goods with the poor is to rob them and to deprive them of
life. It is not our goods that we possess, but theirs”
(Here below: The text
of his speech)
Your Excellencies,
I am pleased to receive you for the
presentation of the Letters accrediting you as Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
to the Holy See on the part of your respective countries: Kyrgyzstan, Antigua and
Barbuda, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Botswana. The gracious words which you
have addressed to me, for which I thank you heartily, have testified that the Heads
of State of your countries are concerned to develop relations of respect and cooperation
with the Holy See. I would ask you kindly to convey to them my sentiments of gratitude
and esteem, together with the assurance of my prayers for them and their fellow citizens.
Ladies
and Gentlemen, our human family is presently experiencing something of a turning point
in its own history, if we consider the advances made in various areas. We can only
praise the positive achievements which contribute to the authentic welfare of mankind,
in fields such as those of health, education and communications. At the same time,
we must also acknowledge that the majority of the men and women of our time continue
to live daily in situations of insecurity, with dire consequences. Certain pathologies
are increasing, with their psychological consequences; fear and desperation grip the
hearts of many people, even in the so-called rich countries; the joy of life is diminishing;
indecency and violence are on the rise; poverty is becoming more and more evident.
People have to struggle to live and, frequently, to live in an undignified way. One
cause of this situation, in my opinion, is in our relationship with money, and our
acceptance of its power over ourselves and our society. Consequently the financial
crisis which we are experiencing makes us forget that its ultimate origin is to be
found in a profound human crisis. In the denial of the primacy of human beings! We
have created new idols. The worship of the golden calf of old (cf. Ex 32:15-34) has
found a new and heartless image in the cult of money and the dictatorship of an economy
which is faceless and lacking any truly humane goal.
The worldwide financial
and economic crisis seems to highlight their distortions and above all the gravely
deficient human perspective, which reduces man to one of his needs alone, namely,
consumption. Worse yet, human beings themselves are nowadays considered as consumer
goods which can be used and thrown away. We have begun a throw away culture. This
tendency is seen on the level of individuals and whole societies; and it is being
promoted! In circumstances like these, solidarity, which is the treasure of the poor,
is often considered counterproductive, opposed to the logic of finance and the economy.
While the income of a minority is increasing exponentially, that of the majority is
crumbling. This imbalance results from ideologies which uphold the absolute autonomy
of markets and financial speculation, and thus deny the right of control to States,
which are themselves charged with providing for the common good. A new, invisible
and at times virtual, tyranny is established, one which unilaterally and irremediably
imposes its own laws and rules. Moreover, indebtedness and credit distance countries
from their real economy and citizens from their real buying power. Added to this,
as if it were needed, is widespread corruption and selfish fiscal evasion which have
taken on worldwide dimensions. The will to power and of possession has become limitless.
Concealed
behind this attitude is a rejection of ethics, a rejection of God. Ethics, like solidarity,
is a nuisance! It is regarded as counterproductive: as something too human, because
it relativizes money and power; as a threat, because it rejects manipulation and subjection
of people: because ethics leads to God, who is situated outside the categories of
the market. These financiers, economists and politicians consider God to be unmanageable,
unmanageable even dangerous, because he calls man to his full realization and to independence
from any kind of slavery. Ethics – naturally, not the ethics of ideology – makes it
possible, in my view, to create a balanced social order that is more humane. In this
sense, I encourage the financial experts and the political leaders of your countries
to consider the words of Saint John Chrysostom: “Not to share one’s goods with the
poor is to rob them and to deprive them of life. It is not our goods that we possess,
but theirs” (Homily on Lazarus, 1:6 – PG 48, 992D).
Dear Ambassadors, there
is a need for financial reform along ethical lines that would produce in its turn
an economic reform to benefit everyone. This would nevertheless require a courageous
change of attitude on the part of political leaders. I urge them to face this challenge
with determination and farsightedness, taking account, naturally, of their particular
situations. Money has to serve, not to rule! The Pope loves everyone, rich and poor
alike, but the Pope has the duty, in Christ’s name, to remind the rich to help the
poor, to respect them, to promote them. The Pope appeals for disinterested solidarity
and for a return to person-centred ethics in the world of finance and economics.
For
her part, the Church always works for the integral development of every person. In
this sense, she reiterates that the common good should not be simply an extra, simply
a conceptual scheme of inferior quality tacked onto political programmes. The Church
encourages those in power to be truly at the service of the common good of their peoples.
She urges financial leaders to take account of ethics and solidarity. And why should
they not turn to God to draw inspiration from his designs? In this way, a new political
and economic mindset would arise that would help to transform the absolute dichotomy
between the economic and social spheres into a healthy symbiosis.
Finally,
through you, I greet with affection the Pastors and the faithful of the Catholic communities
present in your countries. I urge them to continue their courageous and joyful witness
of faith and fraternal love in accordance with Christ’s teaching. Let them not be
afraid to offer their contribution to the development of their countries, through
initiatives and attitudes inspired by the Sacred Scriptures! And as you inaugurate
your mission, I extend to you, dear Ambassadors, my very best wishes, assuring you
of the assistance of the Roman Curia for the fulfilment of your duties. To this end,
upon you and your families, and also upon your Embassy staff, I willingly invoke abundant
divine blessings.