Pope says concern for poor is Gospel, not communism
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Francis is insisting that his concern for the poor and critique of the global economic system isn't some novel, communist-inspired ideology but rather the original and core "touchstone" of the Christian faith.
Some U.S. conservatives have branded the first Latin American pope a Marxist for his frequent critiques of consumerism and focus on a church "that is poor and for the poor." But in an interview contained in a new book, Francis explains that his message is rooted in the Gospel and has been echoed by church fathers since Christianity's first centuries.
"The Gospel does not condemn the wealthy, but the idolatry of wealth, the idolatry that makes people indifferent to the call of the poor," Francis says in "This Economy Kills," a study of the pope's economic and social teachings, excerpts of which were provided Sunday to The Associated Press.
Specifically, Francis summarized a verse from the Gospel of Matthew which is the essential mission statement of his papacy: "I was hungry, I was thirsty, I was in prison, I was sick, I was naked and you helped me, clothed me, visited me, took care of me."
"Caring for our neighbor, for those who are poor, who suffer in body and soul, for those who are in need: this is the touchstone. Is it pauperism? No. It is the Gospel."
He cites church fathers dating to St. Ambrose and St. John Chrysostom as expressing the same concerns, and noted somewhat wryly that if he had said the same "some would accuse me of giving a Marxist homily."
"As we can see, this concern for the poor is in the Gospel, it is within the tradition of the church, it is not an invention of communism and it must not be turned into some ideology, as has sometimes happened before in the course of history," an apparent reference to the Latin American-inspired liberation theology.
`'This Economy Kills," by two seasoned Vatican reporters, comes out this week in Italian.
The pope baptized 33 babies in the Sistine Chapel Sunday as part of an annual tradition, this year repeating an invitation to mothers to nurse their babies if crying out of hunger.
Francis pronounced each baby's name and poured water from a golden shell-shaped cup on to their foreheads, welcoming them into the faith as some squirmed in their mothers' arms and others slept peacefully. The 13 infant boys and 20 infant girls, including a set of twins, were all the children of Vatican employees.
During his homily, the pope likened the word of God to `'substantial food," that would help children grow well. He took the opportunity to tell the mothers `'give your children milk," and then repeated his explicit invitation from the same occasion last year for mothers to feed their children, `'also now, if they are crying for hunger, nurse them."
The invitation is in keeping with Francis' down-to-earth style, and also his focus on mothers that has been evident in his elaboration on families in recent weeks.
More From New Jersey 101.5 FM
