The Infinite One
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| Pope Francis Slams the Global Community's Overemphasis on Bank Woes While Ignoring the Poor |
VATICAN CITY, May 18 (Reuters) - Pope Francis shared personal moments with 200,000 people on Saturday, telling them he sometimes nods off while praying at the end of a long day and that it "breaks my heart" that the death of a homeless person is not news.
Francis, who has made straight talk and simplicity a hallmark of his papacy, made his unscripted comments in answers to questions by four people at a huge international gathering of Catholic associations in St. Peter's Square.
But he outdid himself in passionately discussing everything from the memory of his grandmother to his decision to become a priest, from political corruption to his worries about a Church that too often closes in on itself instead of looking outward.
"If we step outside of ourselves, we will find poverty," he said, repeating his call for Catholics to do more to seek out those on the fringes of society who need help the most," he said from the steps of St. Peter's Basilica
"Today, and it breaks my heart to say it, finding a homeless person who has died of cold, is not news. Today, the news is scandals, that is news, but the many children who don't have food - that's not news. This is grave. We can't rest easy while things are this way."
The crowd, most of whom are already involved in charity work, interrupted him often with applause.
"We cannot become starched Christians, too polite, who speak of theology calmly over tea. We have to become courageous Christians and seek out those (who need help most)," he said.
To laughter from the crowd, he described how he prays each day before an altar before going to bed.
"Sometimes I doze off, the fatigue of the day makes you fall asleep, but he (God) understands," he said.
CRISIS OF VALUES
Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, said the world was going through not just an economic crisis but a crisis of values.
"This is happening today. If investments in banks fall, it is a tragedy and people say 'what are we going to do?' but if people die of hunger, have nothing to eat or suffer from poor health, that's nothing. This is our crisis today. A Church that is poor and for the poor has to fight this mentality," he said.
Many in the crowd planned to stay in the square overnight to pray and prepare for Francis' Mass on Sunday, when the Catholic Church marks Pentecost, the day it teaches that the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles.
On Saturday morning, Francis met German Chancellor Angela Merkel and discussed Europe's economic crisis.
Apparently responding to his criticism of a heartless "dictatorship of the economy" earlier in the week, Merkel, who is up for re-election in September, later called for stronger regulation of financial markets.
On Thursday, Francis appealed in a speech for world financial reform, saying the global economic crisis had made life worse for millions in rich and poor countries.
Francis, who has made straight talk and simplicity a hallmark of his papacy, made his unscripted comments in answers to questions by four people at a huge international gathering of Catholic associations in St. Peter's Square.
But he outdid himself in passionately discussing everything from the memory of his grandmother to his decision to become a priest, from political corruption to his worries about a Church that too often closes in on itself instead of looking outward.
"If we step outside of ourselves, we will find poverty," he said, repeating his call for Catholics to do more to seek out those on the fringes of society who need help the most," he said from the steps of St. Peter's Basilica
"Today, and it breaks my heart to say it, finding a homeless person who has died of cold, is not news. Today, the news is scandals, that is news, but the many children who don't have food - that's not news. This is grave. We can't rest easy while things are this way."
The crowd, most of whom are already involved in charity work, interrupted him often with applause.
"We cannot become starched Christians, too polite, who speak of theology calmly over tea. We have to become courageous Christians and seek out those (who need help most)," he said.
To laughter from the crowd, he described how he prays each day before an altar before going to bed.
"Sometimes I doze off, the fatigue of the day makes you fall asleep, but he (God) understands," he said.
CRISIS OF VALUES
Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, said the world was going through not just an economic crisis but a crisis of values.
"This is happening today. If investments in banks fall, it is a tragedy and people say 'what are we going to do?' but if people die of hunger, have nothing to eat or suffer from poor health, that's nothing. This is our crisis today. A Church that is poor and for the poor has to fight this mentality," he said.
Many in the crowd planned to stay in the square overnight to pray and prepare for Francis' Mass on Sunday, when the Catholic Church marks Pentecost, the day it teaches that the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles.
On Saturday morning, Francis met German Chancellor Angela Merkel and discussed Europe's economic crisis.
Apparently responding to his criticism of a heartless "dictatorship of the economy" earlier in the week, Merkel, who is up for re-election in September, later called for stronger regulation of financial markets.
On Thursday, Francis appealed in a speech for world financial reform, saying the global economic crisis had made life worse for millions in rich and poor countries.
MY TWO CENTS..
Will someone give this guy Sainthood already? (Or does he have to be deceased for that honor?) I am not Catholic but I have to admit this guy has spunk. Grit. And a very clear eye with how broken the moral compass of the Global community has become. It's all about the almighty dollar. Corporations have bought off politicians in the highest levels of Government, including the White House. The rules are all skewed in their favor. The game is stacked against the poor AND the working man..
Ever wonder why it is "required" by companies that if you leave them you have to give a two weeks notice (or else).. Yet they can fire you on the spot?
Ever wonder why when you are interviewed by a potential employer, they require phone numbers to check out your previous employment? Yet they don't want to hear if you worked for a no good, low down, unethical, underhanded, fraudulent SCUMBAG of a company?
Ever wonder why these greedy capitalist bastards can ship all of our jobs overseas and get TAX BREAKS FOR IT?
Ever wonder why companies get away with circumventing the inability to ask race on your resume by requiring to know what schools you went to and what neighborhoods (including zip codes) you lived in which they can easily research and trace to get a good idea of your racial background?
Ever wonder why they say Employers can't ask age on an application but they make it required for you to list the "dates" you graduated from college, high school, etc.. which they can easily use to determine your age? Now why would they make it mandatory that you list the dates you graduated?
Firestone is poisoning the waters in various African Countries, Chevron, Exxon and Texaco are polluting our rivers and streams, killing off the entire livelihoods of fisherman and eateries and even entire towns.. And that is just the tip of the Iceberg..
People...
It is time..
For a REVOLUTION.
Wingspan Portfolio Advisors
Wingspan Portfolio Advisors
