Pope Francis: “Let us not be fooled by populism or follow false messiahs”

The Pope Francisco urged “not to be fooled” by “populism” or by “false messiahs”, who “proclaim useful recipes only to increase the wealth of a few”, during the mass celebrated this Sunday in Saint Peter’s Basilica on the occasion of the VI World Day of the Poor.

“Let us not be seduced by the siren songs of populism, which exploits the needs of the people by proposing solutions that are too easy and hasty. Let us not follow the false ‘messiahs’ who, in the name of profit, proclaim useful recipes only to increase the wealth of a few, condemning the poor to marginalization”, said.

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The pontiff, who at the end of the mass will offer lunch in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall to 1,300 needy people, many of them present at the mass, assured in his homily that the best response is to “build a more fraternal world” by breaking “that inner deafness that prevents us from hearing the stifled cry of pain of the weakest”.

“We live in wounded societies and we witness (…) scenes of violence, injustice and persecution; In addition, we must face the crisis generated by climate change and the pandemic, which has left behind a trail of discomfort, not only physical, but also psychological, economic and social”, explained Franciscowho officiated the homily seated for his knee pain.

Before the hundreds of faithful who attended it, concelebrated by 22 cardinals, The Pope highlighted “the misfortune of war, which causes the death of so many innocents and multiplies the poison of hatred” and to the many who “migrate in search of hope” and to those who “live in precariousness due to lack of employment due to unfair and unworthy working conditions.”

“And also today the poor are the most penalized victims of each crisis”he stressed, “but if our hearts remain numb and insensitive, we cannot hear their weak cry of pain, cry with them and for them, see how much loneliness and anguish are also hidden in the most forgotten corners of our cities”, where there is “so much misery and pain.”

That is why we must be careful to “not be fooled” by “populism” or “false messiahs”: “Let us courageously commit ourselves to justice, legality and peace, being on the side of the weak”, he emphasized.

“We cannot stay, like those of whom the Gospel speaks, admiring the beautiful stones of the temple, without recognizing the true temple of God, which is the human being, especially the poor, in whose face, in whose history, in whose wounds there is Jesus. He said that. Let’s never forget it.” concluded Francisco.

The World Day of the Poor is held at the initiative of Francisco “to urge the Church to ‘go outside’ its walls and find poverty in the multiple meanings in which it manifests itself in today’s world,” according to the Vatican, which this week has organized various initiatives to help those most in need .

Thus, “mobile clinics” were set up in the Plaza de San Pedro that have provided free general medical examinations, electrocardiograms, blood tests, blood tests, flu vaccines and Covid tests and detection of HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis.

In addition, food has been distributed throughout Rome for 5,000 families in difficulty, who have also been helped to pay gas and electricity bills.

In Italy, in 2021, the number of people in a state of absolute poverty amounted to 5.6 million, of which 1.4 million were children, according to Caritas.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.