(Vatican Radio)“There is a need for financial reform along ethical lines that would
produce in its turn an economic reform to benefit everyone.”… “Money has to serve,
not to rule” Those were the Pope’s words to new Non Resident Ambassadors who were
in the Vatican on Thursday to present their letters of credence. The new Ambassadors
from Kyrgyzstan, Antigua and Barbuda, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Botswana listened
to Pope Francis as he spoke about a the financial crisis which we are experiencing
that ultimately is, he said, as a result of a profound human crisis.
The
Holy Father began his address to those present on a positive note by praising advances
in various areas. These achievements he underlined, in fields such as health, education
and communications can only benefit mankind.
But at the same time, the Pope
went on to say, “the majority of the men and women of our time continue to live daily
in situations of insecurity, with dire consequences… People have to struggle to live
and, frequently, to live in an undignified way.”
Pope Francis explained that
in his opinion, one cause of this situation, was our relationship with money, and
our acceptance of its power over ourselves and our society. Consequently, he added,
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.”
He continued by saying the worship of the golden calf of old, has
now a new image, “in the cult of money and the dictatorship of an economy which is
faceless and lacking any truly humane goal.” Our societies, Pope Francis noted are
becoming throw away ones, and worse still he added, “human beings themselves are nowadays
considered as consumer goods which can be used and thrown away.”
The Pope
explained that what we are really seeing concealed behind current attitudes is a rejection
of ethics, a rejection of God, and speaking directly to the new Ambassadors the Holy
Father encouraged the financial experts and the political leaders of their 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”.
Stressing the need for financial reform along ethical lines,
the Pope noted that it would require a courageous change of attitude on the part of
political leaders and he urged them to face this challenge with determination and
farsightedness, taking account, of their particular situations.
In his concluding
comments, Pope Francis said that the Church herself encourages those in power to be
truly at the service of the common good of their peoples. Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s
report
Below is
the official English language translation of Pope Francis' address for the
New Non-Resident Ambassadors to the Holy See: Kyrgyzstan, Antigua and Barbuda, Luxembourg
and Botswana (16 May 2013)
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 the 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.