14. jan. 2015

Gerard O'Connell. America, skriver bl.a.:

A new book on the social teaching of the first Jesuit pope has just arrived in bookstores in Italy.  “Papa Francesco. Questa economia uccide” (Pope Francis: This economy kills) is the title of the book co-authored by Andrea Tornielli, the coordinator of Vatican Insider, and Giacomo Galeazzi, the Vatican correspondent for the Italian daily, La Stampa.  (I am a sometime contributor to Vatican Insider.)

The 228-page book written in Italian (published by Edizioni Piemme Spa Milano) brings together and analyzes Francis’ talks, writings and other interventions on the economy, poverty, immigration, social justice and the protection of creation.  One chapter summarizes his talks and actions in this broad area before he became pope, but most of his interventions come from the period since his election as Bishop of Rome on 13 March 2013.  

The text includes interesting contributions from two Italians who are experts in the economy, finance and the social doctrine of the Church: Ettore Gotti Tedeschi  (a banker and former head of the Vatican Bank) and Stefano Zamagni  (professor at Bologna University and longtime collaborator with the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace).  They discuss their different reactions to Francis’ interventions on the above mentioned topics.

The book also devotes a chapter to the attacks against Pope Francis in this whole area, and concludes with a new interview with him conducted by Andrea Tornielli last October, on capitalism and social justice. The following is an extract from that interview:

ANDREA TORNIELLI

GIACOMO GALEAZZI

‘Marxist’, ‘Communist’, ‘Pauperist’. Francis’ words on poverty and social justice, as well as his frequent calls for concern for the needy, have drawn criticism and accusations, sometimes expressed with harshness and sarcasm. How does Pope Francis feel about this? Why is the theme of poverty so prevalent in his teachings?

Your Holiness, is the capitalism of the last decades, in your opinion, an irreversible system?

‘I would not know how to answer this question. I recognise that globalisation has helped many people rise out of poverty, but it has also damned many others to starve to death. It is true that global wealth is growing in absolute terms, but inequalities have also grown and new poverty arisen. 

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Vatican radio - Pope Francis: economy must have human person at its heart:

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