Pope Francis: Capital Becomes an Idol

Posted by admin on Monday, September 28, 2015

Pope Francis Money Quotation saying referencing the first commandment forbidding idolatry and false gods, such as gold or silver (money). Pope Francis said:
 

 

“Once capital becomes an idol and guides people’s decisions, once greed for money presides over the entire socioeconomic system, it ruins society, it condemns and enslaves men and women, it destroys human fraternity, it sets people against one another” — Pope Francis

 

 

In this quote, Pope Francis is referring to the concept of idolatry from the Bible’s Ten Commandments. The first commandment forbids worshipping false gods or idols. Pope Francis is saying that when money and wealth (i.e. capital) become the primary goal and motivation in a society, it can start to take on the role of an idol that people worship and obey above all else. This can then lead societies to prioritize greed and the accumulation of wealth over human dignity and relationships between people.

Greed for money ruins society because when money becomes the primary goal and motivation for people’s decisions, it can undermine important human values like compassion and community. He believes that an economic system driven primarily by greed prioritizes profits and wealth accumulation over human welfare. When profit is valued above all else, it can “condemn and enslave” people by treating them as means to an end rather than ends in themselves. The Pope argues this kind of society damages human relationships and solidarity.