VATICAN - Benedict XVI at the Angelus : “The emergencies of hunger and pollution denounce with growing evidence that the logic of profit, if prevailing, increases the disproportion between rich and poor and a ruinous exploitation of the planet”

Castel Gandolfo (Agenzia Fides) - “The emergencies of hunger and pollution denounce with growing evidence that the logic of profit, if prevailing, increases the disproportion between rich and poor and ruinous exploitation of the planet. When instead the logic of sharing and solidarity prevails, it is possible to correct the route and direct it towards development which is fair and sustainable.” With these words Pope Benedict XVI introduced the midday Angelus prayer on Sunday 23 September at his Summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, to which he had just returned after a pastoral visit to the diocese of Velletri. The Holy Father continued his reflection on the proper use of earthly goods following the theme proposed by St Luke the Evangelist over the past few Sundays.
“When He tells the parable of a dishonest but very astute administrator - the Pope said - , Christ teaches his disciples the best way of using money and material riches, that is to share them with the poor and to win their friendship in view of the Kingdom of heaven... Money in itself is not ‘dishonest’ but more than anything else it can close a person in blind selfishness. It is then a matter of operating a sort of ‘conversion’ of economic goods: instead of using them only for one's own interests, it is necessary to think also of the needs of the poor”. After underlining that “Christ enriched us not with his riches but with his poverty, in other words with his love which led him to give his total self to us”, Benedict XVI recalled the confrontation in the world between the economic logic economic of profit and that of an equal distribution of goods and he said “they do not contradict one another, as long as their relation is well ordered”. Catholic Social Doctrine teaches that “a fair distribution of goods is a priority. Profit is legitimate and, in the right measure, necessary for economic growth”. In this regard the Holy Father cited Pope John Paul II who wrote in his Centesimus annus Encyclical “capitalism should not be considered the only valid system of economic organisation (cfr n.35)”. Lastly Pope Benedict XVI asked for the intercession of the Our Lady Help of Christians (feast day 24 September) “may Mary help Christians to use earthly goods with Gospel wisdom and generous solidarity and inspire governments and economists farsighted strategies which promote authentic progress for all peoples”.
After reciting the Angelus with a few thousand visitors gathered in the courtyard of his Residence the Pope greeted participants at the First World Meeting for Rom priests, deacons and religious organised by the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerants on the theme "With Christ at the service of the Gypsy People". He also mentioned a campaign to promote literacy in Italy, launched by the Società di San Vincenzo de Paoli, describing illiteracy as a “serious social problem which still affects many people in various regions of the world ”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 24/9/2007 - righe 33, parole 472)