Pope Francis Urges People to Reach Out and Touch the ‘Poverty of Our Brothers’
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FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images(VATICAN CITY) — In his latest indictment of unbridled capitalism, Pope Francis called for a fair distribution of wealth and equal access to education and healthcare. The pope’s words were part of his message for Lent on Tuesday, the period leading up to Easter when Christians are expected to carry out acts of self-denial and help others in need.
In keeping with his reputation of frugality, humility and compassion, Pope Francis called Christians to confront poverty, which he said “disfigure[s] the face of humanity,” and for wealthy people to share their fortune and not be blind to the needs of the less fortunate.
“We Christians are called to confront the poverty of our brothers and sisters, to touch it, to make it our own and to take practical steps to alleviate it,” he said.
He also expressed in his speech that he hoped Christians would help people who suffer from “slavery to vice and sin,” such as alcoholism, drug abuse, gambling and pornography, adding, “In such cases, moral destitution can be considered impending suicide.”
Tuesday’s speech is the pope’s latest reference to material wealth and capitalism. Since becoming pope almost a year ago, Francis has made repeated calls for a more equitable world. In late January, he called on the world’s media to help bridge the “scandalous” divide between rich and poor. Last week the pope blasted “inhuman” loan sharks he said were “starving” Italian families forced even deeper into debt by the country’s worst postwar recession.
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