Pope Francis criticized the modern market economy, pointing to social inequalities. The opinion he expressed in an interview with La Croix.
According to the Pontiff, the global economic system characterized by “idolatry of money”. More than 80 percent of the wealth of humanity is in the hands of about 16 percent of the population. Completely free market doesn’t work, he said.
Francis noted that the market itself is a good thing, but the state must monitor and enforce the balance. “What we call social market economy,” he said.
Francis also criticized the practice of exporting Western democracy in a number of Islamic countries such as Iraq or Libya. According to him, that this question should be asked when faced with Islamic terrorism. “We can’t move forward without taking into account cultural features”, — he said.
The Pope acknowledged that Europe has Christian roots. “Christianity is obliged to water them, but in the spirit of service and of the washing of feet,” he said, stressing that the focus should be not on colonial politics, but about “service”.
