Pope Francis — "An economic system that has as its center the god of money needs to be denounced…"
An economic system that has as its center the god of money needs to be denounced, because it is a system that kills.
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About Pope Francis (born 1936)
First Latin American and Jesuit pope (2013-), who has steered the Catholic Church toward pastoral inclusion on LGBTQ pastoral care, divorced Catholics, and climate. Closely associated with Pope John XXIII (the Vatican II reformer pope) and Cardinal Walter Kasper (his theological ally on pastoral reform). For an intellectual contrast, see Cardinal Raymond Burke, American traditionalist cardinal, former head of the Vatican Apostolic Signatura — Burke is the public face of Catholic traditionalism that views Francis's pastoral approach as doctrinally dangerous — he has formally challenged Amoris Laetitia and other Francis reforms.
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Understanding this quote
What it means
When money becomes a society's highest priority — treated like a deity — the resulting economic system causes real suffering and death through poverty, exploitation, and neglect of human dignity. Denouncing it is a moral obligation, not optional commentary. The quote rejects market outcomes as neutral or inevitable, framing wealth-worship as an active destructive force that kills real people rather than a matter of abstract policy debate.
Relevance to Pope Francis
Jorge Mario Bergoglio grew up in Argentina amid severe economic instability and witnessed Latin America's deep poverty firsthand. As a Jesuit, he was shaped by social justice theology focused on the poor. As Pope, he published Laudato Si, explicitly criticized trickle-down economics, refused papal luxuries, and championed the marginalized at every turn. This quote distills his lifelong conviction that authentic faith demands confronting systems that crush vulnerable people.
The era
Francis became Pope in 2013, five years after the 2008 financial crisis devastated millions while banks received government bailouts. Growing wealth inequality — documented by economists like Piketty — fueled Occupy Wall Street and global unrest. Austerity policies gutted social safety nets across Europe. Extreme poverty persisted throughout the Global South despite overall economic growth. This climate made his critique of finance-driven capitalism resonate urgently far beyond Catholic audiences.
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