Pope
Speech to the US Congress
A delicate balance is required to combat
violence perpetrated in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system.
We are asked to summon the courage and the
intelligence to resolve today's many geopolitical and economic crises.
If politics must truly be at the service of the
human person, it follows that it cannot be a slave to the economy and finance.
In times of crisis and economic hardship a spirit of global
solidarity must not be lost.
The right use of natural resources, the proper
application of technology and the harnessing of the spirit of enterprise are
essential elements of an economy
which seeks to be modern, inclusive and sustainable.
Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who
plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? Sadly, the answer,
as we all know, is simply for money: money
that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood.
Pope
Speech to the UN
The need for greater equity is especially true
in the case of economic
crises. This will help limit every kind of abuse or usury, especially where developing countries
are concerned.
Economic and social exclusion
is a complete denial of human fraternity and a grave offense against human
rights and the environment. Put an end as quickly as possible to the phenomenon
of social and economic
exclusion, with its baneful consequences: human trafficking, the marketing of
human organs and tissues, the sexual exploitation of boys and girls, slave
labor, including prostitution, the drug and weapons trade, terrorism and
international organized crime. We need to ensure that our institutions are
truly effective in the struggle against all these scourges.
It must never be forgotten that political and economic activity is only
effective when it is understood as a prudential activity, guided by a perennial
concept of justice and constantly conscious of the fact that we are dealing
with real men and women who live, struggle and suffer, and are often forced to
live in great poverty, deprived of all rights.
The baneful consequences of an irresponsible
mismanagement of the global economy,
guided only by ambition for wealth and power, must serve as a summons to a
forthright reflection on man.
War is the negation of all rights and a
dramatic assault on the environment.
Pope
Speech to Bishops
Business is no longer conducted on the basis of
trust; others can no longer be trusted. There are no longer close personal
relationships. Today’s culture seems to encourage people not to bond with
anything or anyone, not to trust. The most important thing nowadays seems to be
follow the latest trend or activity. Consumption seems to determine what is important. Consuming relationships, consuming friendships, consuming religions, consuming, consuming… Whatever the
cost or consequences. A consumption
which does not favor bonding, a consumption which has little to do with human relationships.
The result is a culture which discards
everything that is no longer “useful” or “satisfying” for the tastes of the consumer. We have turned
our society into a huge multicultural showcase tied only to the tastes of
certain “consumers”,
while so many others only “eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table”
(Mt 15:27).
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