RT, AP et al

Pope Francis has urged the people of Latin America to stand up to the world's capitalist system and change the world economic order by creating a “truly communitarian economy” based on distribution of goods among all.

Starting his speech with the need to instigate change, he called on the faithful to fight to protect human dignity in a “system” where farm workers end up without land or home and laborers without rights.

“Do we realize that that system has imposed the mentality of profit at any price, with no concern for social exclusion or the destruction of nature?” he asked at a powerful speech before a gathering of social movements in Bolivia.

READ MORE: ‘Domestic church & best social capital’: Pope Francis turns to family values in Ecuador

Once “capital” becomes an “idol” and guides individuals and once “greed for money presides over the entire socioeconomic system,” it ruins society, Francis said. It enslaves individuals and destroys “ fraternity,” a system which “excludes, debases and kills.”

“This system is by now intolerable. So let’s not be afraid to say it: we need change; we want change,” Pope Francis said.

The Pope called on his followers to create a “truly communitarian economy,” a system that would guarantee the three “L’s” of land, lodging and labor.

“It is no utopia or chimera. It is an extremely realistic prospect. We can achieve it. Working for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy. It is a moral obligation,” the Pope said in the city of Santa Cruz to participants of the second world meeting of popular movements, an international body that brings together organizations of people on the margins of society.

The Argentinian-native Pope urged the crowd to tackle “three great tasks”.

Read more
'Not to share wealth with poor is to steal': Pope slams capitalism as 'new tyranny'

The first task is to create an economy at the ”service of peoples” not at the “service of money” Such an approach, the Pope believes, will focus on service rather than profits which in return will protect “Mother Earth.”

The second task is to unite our peoples on the “path of peace and justice” to defend their sovereignty against “colonialism.”

“The new colonialism takes on different faces. At times it appears as the anonymous influence of mammon: corporations, loan agencies, certain free trade treaties, and the imposition of measures of austerity which always tighten the belt of workers and the poor.”

“Monopolizing communications” is yet another example of consumerism and “new colonialism” for the Pope that ultimately denies countries the right to development.

Pope Francis called on social movements to protect their culture, their language, their social processes and their religious traditions.

The third task is environmental: to “defend Mother Earth,” by breaking down the current “system” which ravishes the planet's ecology.

The pontiff issued a fierce condemnation of the world's governments for what he calls "cowardice" in defending the Earth, calling it "a grave sin."

“We cannot allow certain interests – interests which are global but not universal – to take over, to dominate states and international organizations, and to continue destroying creation,” Pope Francis concluded.

vladimir wrote:Once “capital” becomes an “idol” and guides individuals and once “greed for money presides over the entire socioeconomic system,” it ruins society, Francis said. It enslaves individuals and destroys “ fraternity,” a system which “excludes, debases and kills.”

Well he should know, after all.

Yup. God forbid we mention evil and capitalism in the same sentence, that's communistic, even though Jesus preached it. Let's selectively accept what we want to support capitalistic excesses and Zionazism, but ignore the call for share and share alike, obviously God was high when he said that.

vladimir wrote:Zionazism.

You need to watch those Zionazismists.

Seemingly progressive pope is all the more dangerous IMO.
Re: Human dignity. I'm waiting for him to step up and say that 12 year old incest victims and rape victims and others can have a medical intervention to get rid of the fetus instead of having to bear the consequences and the shame.
And that contraception and control of your own body is none of his business
Then I might consider him "progressive".
(As for his balls, NOMB.)

Hey, I'm no fan of the Roman Carbolic church, nor the Poop system, but this guy is the best to date.

Agree about the kiddy-fiddling/contraception issues, but it's nice to hear any world leader criticising shameless greed and destruction.

Sounds good to me, if he'd like to offload the keys to the Vatican vaults to me or if he's a more modern Pope drop me an email with a few bank account passwords I'll gladly relieve the institution of its vast wealth for the greater good.

Where's Roberto Calvi when you need him.

Let me see. Head of a religion that helped sneak Nazi's out of Germany after WWII, who's bank is more than likely full of gold from Jew's teeth, who won't let men/women use rubbers to stop aids and over population so that the church can have more starving people to subjugate, who is probably setting on untold wealth while church members starve, who ban women from all their highest offices, who hid kiddy-fiddlers for years, who when the kiddy-fiddlers get caught and the victims are awarded money, let that branch of their religion claim bankruptcy. Yes a shinning example for the world, NOT! Give me good old paganism anytime.

Agree, but the pagans are not speaking out. Any port in a storm, they say...