Vatican City – Being rich is not a sin, but Christians must share their wealth with others, Pope Francis, said on Wednesday, renewing the Catholic Church’s criticism of greed.
“Money is by itself a good
instrument, like almost all things at human disposal: it is a tool that
broadens our capacities,’’ the pontiff wrote in a short essay published by
Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper.
However, “when economic power is a
tool that produces fortunes that people keep to themselves, hiding them from
others, it leads to injustice, it loses its original positive value,’’ Francis
wrote.
His remarks were written as an
introduction to “Poor for the Poor. The Mission of the Church,’’ a new book by
German Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, who heads the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office which enforces Catholic teachings.
Mueller is one of 19 cardinal-elects
that the pope is due to elevate on Saturday.
The title of his book echoes
Francis’ famous words days after his election in March.
He said he wanted “a poor Church,
for the poor.’’
The Argentine-born pontiff has
strong views on social justice, which have riled some ultra-conservatives.
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