How do you like the humble nature of Pope Francis, and how do you think it'll affect social Justice?

[Jaysuitical]

With respect,What?.

Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul II, not to mention Pope Paul VI, Pope John XXIII, Pius XII, XI, etc. were NONE of them ‘haughty’ or not humble. They were all humble men. So what about Pope Francis makes you think him ‘more’ humble than others and why should that affect ‘social justice’ more than it was affected under say Pope Benedict or Pope John Paul II etc etc.?

A lot of misguided and even more malicious people often pointed to Benedict’s wearing of the red shoes to be some sort of sign of self-indulgence; but it was the tradition of the popes to wear red shoes, if I’m coorrect, after the Dominican Pius IV adopted the white habit of his order replacing the cardinal red that popes had worn up till then.

The purpose of taking the evangelical vow of poverty is to show a complete abandonment of the world. John Paul’s only possession at death was his wall cross, but because he lived in the papal apartments, people could say 'Well, of course he could be poor if he didn’t have to pay for anything!!"

Obviously only those with severe animus against the Church in some way would see John Paul or Benedict as proud. But the evangelical counsels make visible to anyone what otherwise God alone could truly see.

 

[PaulinePresbytr]

Capitalism creates poverty too.

Which is why the Church does not support either Capitalism or Communism.

Capitalism does not create poverty because it is, by definition, a lack there of a system. People create poverty by their greed, but capitalism in and of itself does not.

 

[sennincatholic]

Right now, I think he’s really, really cool. It’s a shallow opinion, but then there’s something ridiculously awesome about a Latin American Pope with one lung who used to be a chemistry teacher.

He does seem to genuinely care about the poor and be really serious about reform. I’m hoping his attitudes will have positive affects, but I don’t really know what will happen.

He has both lungs. He had a lobectomy(removal of a lobe of a lung) in one of his lungs when he was young but not all of the lung was removed.

 

[cwltexas]

I LOVE this new Pope, he was one of the main reasons that I decided to return to Church after decades of being gone.

 

[Elizabeth502]

Capitalism creates poverty too.

Which is why the Church does not support either Capitalism or Communism.

Not quite accurate. The Church does not support unrestrained or immoderate Capitalism. She supports capitalism with a conscience, given that she supports the right of people to improve their economic situation via individual initiative. Certainly the implication of that teaching also implies some kind of enforced limits on profiteering.

The Church supports freedom, initiative, and self-determination in the real world. Such freedoms are possible within an economic system which is foundationally capitalistic. Therefore, she does not support a communistic economic system – even apart from the political restraints & political oppression of a communisitic system which is inevitably a part of it. (Historically, it has been.)

Many people, including even some clergy, misunderstand the Church’s economic doctrine. For example, some Catholics believe that the Church supports Labor Unions, anywhere and everywhere, as an absolute. She does not. She is silent on whether particular labor unions & particular labor disputes should always be resolved in favor of the workers. Rather, the rightt of workers to organize is the principle supported. She would, then, oppose legislation which eliminated all labor unions on principle, particularly if there were no replacement avenue for laborers to negotiate, be represented, and be protected. Leaving workers without power is considered an abridgement of human rights.

Of course, the problem is that a minority of workers are protected by unions in the first place. (Trades and professions of many would never be covered by that.) Second, in the last 20 years labor unions have become in some cases corrupted, and have become political tools used to oppress, influence, and propagandize. Third, in many cases laws & regulations are doing a more just and more comprehensive job of protecting employees.

Again, it’s the principle of recourse, as well as concrete avenues for grievance and protection, that the Church is concerned about.

 

[raaucoin]

I pray that the Holy Spirit will move me beyond admiring Pope Francis for his “humility and simplicity”’ and give me the strength and courage to imitate it.