On February 5, Pope Francis addressed a crowd of economists and finance ministers that had gathered together for a seminar on “New Forms of Solidarity Towards Fraternal Inclusion, Integration and Innovation.” During his speech, the pope addressed the economy, sin, and finance, and he also called for wealth distribution in order to alleviate poverty. “The world is rich, and yet the poor increase around us,” he said. “If extreme poverty exists in the midst of wealth (also extreme), it is because we have allowed the gap to widen to become the largest in history.” The pope says it’s a “fact” the poor have only grown poorer, while the rich continue to get richer – but is this really true? How effectively can poverty be alleviated through wealth redistribution? Acton’s president and co-founder, Rev. Robert Sirico, comes on to the podcast to answer.
Read: John Paul II’s Sollicitudo Rei Socialis encyclical
Pope Francis endorses wealth redistribution, calls for an end to tax cuts for the ‘richest people’
Read Pope Francis’ speech given at the “New Forms of Solidarity” seminar
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