In meditations you wrote to be read on the holy Friday (18), the papa Francisco criticized again “Economy that kills”. This was one of the last acts of the first South American pontiff, whose death was communicated on Monday (21) in the Vatican.
A criticism of the “economy that kills” was present in the words of the pontiff over the 12 years in which he occupied the throne of Pedro. The mention has already appeared in First “Great Document” by Franciscoan apostolic exhortation published in November 2013.
In the message, the Pope said: “Just as it commands ‘You will not kill’you must say ‘No to the economy of exclusion and inequality’given that ‘This economy kills’. Francisco denies the “economy of exclusion”, the “new idolatry of money” and the “financial system that rules instead of serving”.
“Today, everything is subject to the laws of competition and survival of the fittest, where the powerful feed on the helplessness. As a consequence, masses of people are excluded and marginalized: without work, no possibilities, no way to escape,” he wrote.
In the covid-19 pandemic, the pontiff reinforced this view: in a letter titled All brothers (All brothers, in Portuguese), published in 2020 ,.
“The market alone cannot solve all problems, no matter how much we make us believe in this dogma of neoliberal faith,” wrote the Pope.
common to other pontiffs – including the fisherman’s ring. Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s stance was also reinforced in the choice of Francisco’s name, known as the Saint of the Poor.
Francisco defended the fight against inequality and. The meeting was supported by political leaders such as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The Vatican described the current scenario as “a critical moment, when ultra-rich in power are shaping political decisions trying to undermine international cooperation for tax reform.”
Francisco Economy
In 2019, the call of the papa for one most inclusive economy and that he could mitigate inequalities motivated a group of young economists and entrepreneurs to debate the agenda.
Francisco’s Economics Community (EOF) meets annually and, last year, made his own foundation official to work in three areas of intervention: research-all, business-invation and education-culture.
While talking to a group delegation in 2022, Francisco proposed the conception of a new economy as opposed to the wars scenario. The Pope questioned the global investment in the war industry, in “Economy that kills”.
“The arms industry thrives taking resources out of the poor. Did you know that in some countries weapons factories are the investments that generate the most income? Making money to kill while democracy is threatened … Populism and inequalities grow and the planet is increasingly injured. It is not easy,” he said.
Participation in the 4th EOF Meeting, held in 2023, also mentioned the “Economy that kills”.
“The economy that kills does not coincide with an economy that makes it live; The economy of huge riches for the few does not harmonize internally with the many poor ones who cannot live, ”said the Holy Father.
Before the papacy
Francisco’s defense for an inclusive economy that embraces the most vulnerable date before the papacy. In 2001, Argentina was undergoing a political and economic crisis, in a turbulence that had the absence of foreign debt and the moratorium declaration.
At the time Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio helped to summon the country’s population to pray a “prayer for the homeland.” The priest requested the Argentines’ attitude for a more inclusive policy, indicating that each other’s strength would be essential to get the country out of the economic crisis.
“We want to be a nation, a nation whose identity is the passion for truth and the commitment to the common good. It gives us the courage and freedom of God’s children to love everyone without excluding anyone, prioritizing the poor and forgiving those who offend us, abhorrent hatred and building peace. Jesus Christ, Lord of history, need you.
