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.
