Bitcoin Forum

Pope Francis urges global leaders to end 'tyranny' of money

Pope Francis has attacked the “dictatorship” of the global financial system and warned that the “cult of money” was making life a misery for millions.

He said free-market capitalism had created a “tyranny” and that human beings were being judged purely by their ability to consume goods.
Money should be made to “serve” people, not to “rule” them, he said, calling for a more ethical financial system and curbs on financial speculation.
Countries should impose more control over their economies and not allow “absolute autonomy”, in order to provide “for the common good”.
The gap between rich and poor was growing and the “joy of life” was diminishing in many developed countries, the Argentinian Pope said, two months after he was elected as the successor to Benedict XVI.
“While the income of a minority is increasing exponentially, that of the majority is crumbling,” said Francis, who as archbishop of Buenos Aires visited slums, opted to live in a modest flat rather than an opulent Church residence and went to work by bus.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/10061700/Pope-Francis-urges-global-leaders-to-end-tyranny-of-money.html

I'm not sure I understand; first, he says people should not be ruled by money, but then he asks for more regulation and less free-market, and even recommends socialism, which is like saying, "People shouldn't be ruled by X, they should be ruled by Y."

Is he sure he thought this through?  Or is this deliberate?  Sounds like all he wants is a shift in power, which won't make us any better off.

The former.  He's a religious leader who's spent his life in the cocoon of the church.  I'm sure he believes what he sees on TV.   Is he capable of critical thinking?  Doubtful.

LOL... they choose religious leaders based on faith... which is the opposite of critical thinking.

You see this kind of bullshit doublespeak from almost every single self-appointed leader out there, the sad thing is, no matter how much it's pointed out to them people still want to believe it.

The Pope and the Socialists are in complete agreement with Bitcoiners in that a universal system is needed to achieve certain societal benefits. The Pope is right that money should serve people, but he is wrong in thinking that free markets enslaved the people. What we all need is some kind of money that is freely transferable, equally valuable around the world, and controlled by only those who hold it. The Pope is definitely on board with BTC.

I am fine with the pope preaching for the rich to help the poor. I am glad that the Catholic church is taking a leading role in this. It should be voluntary charities and religions that help the poor. Not the government via force.

Ron Paul always spoke of his early days in medicine which I believe was a church hospital that charged very little to those that could not afford it. That is how health care should work.

Bullshit.

The guy's comments are exactly, perfectly accurate when viewed through the lens of capitalism, politics, greed, envy, socialism, and corruption AS HE SAW IT HAPPENING IN ARGENTINA.

And that's a perfect example of "Failure IS an option" from most points of view.  Their money failed, they failed at capitalism, they failed at socialism. 

So don't take his comments literally to apply to you, me or other places and situations.

If I understand the pope, it's not money he's after, but consumerism and widening inequalities. The poor are made even poorer when they look at the rich in fancy clothes and flashy cars. And that's some kind of a tyranny because some people believes it's impossible to be happy without all the luxuries of the modern world.

This has nothing to do with bitcoin.