Pope Francis: Dung of the Devil Quote
on Sunday, September 27, 2015Pope Francis Money Quotation saying that chasing cash becomes so foul that he references a line from a 4th century saint calling that mindset the dung of the devil. Pope Francis said:
“Behind all this pain, death and destruction there is the stench of what Basil of Caesarea called ‘the dung of the devil’. An unfettered pursuit of money rules” — Pope Francis
In this quote, Pope Francis is strongly condemning conflicts and crises driven by the pursuit of wealth and power above all else. He seems to be referring specifically to wars and injustices fueled by a desire for monetary gain and domination. The “stench of the dung of the devil” suggests Francis views such actions as morally corrupt and against humanity.
By stating “an unfettered pursuit of money rules,” the Pope argues that placing financial interests above ethics and compassion is the root cause of much suffering in the world.
His view appears to be that as long as greed and the prioritization of profits over people are allowed to dictate decisions and policies, violence and oppression will continue to plague societies.
The quote serves as a critique of political and economic systems that sacrifice morality, justice and lives for the sake of accumulating wealth through any means.