Pope Francis should take a lesson from Pope Leo XIII "On Socialism"

Recently Pope Francis restated his wish for world leaders to redistribute the world’s wealth to the poor. According to Time, “Pope Francis reaffirmed his plea on Friday for world leaders to redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor during an address before top U.N. officials and called for a global initiative to reduce the income gap. Pope Francis on Friday renewed his call on global leaders to redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor. Francis made his plea during an address to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other U.N. leaders gathered in Rome for an audience with the pope, CBS News reports.”

Perhaps Pope Francis can take a lesson from Pope Leo XIII on socialism?

QUOD APOSTOLICI MUNERIS (On Socialism) issued by Pope Leo XIII on 28 December 1878 states:

9. But Catholic wisdom, sustained by the precepts of natural and divine law, provides with especial care for public and private tranquility in its doctrines and teachings regarding the duty of government and the distribution of the goods which are necessary for life and use. For, while the socialists would destroy the “right” of property, alleging it to be a human invention altogether opposed to the inborn equality of man, and, claiming a community of goods, argue that poverty should not be peaceably endured, and that the property and privileges of the rich may be rightly invaded, the Church, with much greater wisdom and good sense, recognizes the inequality among men, who are born with different powers of body and mind, inequality in actual possession, also, and holds that the right of property and of ownership, which springs from nature itself, must not be touched and stands inviolate.

For she knows that stealing and robbery were forbidden in so special a manner by God, the Author and Defender of right, that He would not allow man even to desire what belonged to another, and that thieves and despoilers, no less than adulterers and idolaters, are shut out from the Kingdom of Heaven. But not the less on this account does our holy Mother not neglect the care of the poor or omit to provide for their necessities; but, rather, drawing them to her with a mother’s embrace, and knowing that they bear the person of Christ Himself, who regards the smallest gift to the poor as a benefit conferred on Himself, holds them in great honor. She does all she can to help them; she provides homes and hospitals where they may be received, nourished, and cared for all the world over and watches over these. She is constantly pressing on the rich that most grave precept to give what remains to the poor; and she holds over their heads the divine sentence that unless they succor the needy they will be repaid by eternal torments.

In fine, she does all she can to relieve and comfort the poor, either by holding up to them the example of Christ, “who being rich became poor for our sake, or by reminding them of his own words, wherein he pronounced the poor blessed and bade them hope for the reward of eternal bliss. But who does not see that this is the best method of arranging the old struggle between the rich and poor?

For, as the very evidence of facts and events shows, if this method is rejected or disregarded, one of two things must occur: either the greater portion of the human race will fall back into the vile condition of slavery which so long prevailed among the pagan nations, or human society must continue to be disturbed by constant eruptions, to be disgraced by rapine and strife, as we have had sad witness even in recent times.

Has Pope Francis, by his break with the true nature of the church, become merely another socialist? Socialism historically is a threat to the church, whether it be National Socialism, Communism, or any other form of wealth redistribution. Charitable giving is not the role of government at any level. Governments that seek to redistribute wealth do so to expand their power over their subjects, not to help the poor.

Americans have long embraced the ideas and ideals of classical liberalism. American Catholics would do well to understand the dangers outlined by Pope Leo XIII one hundred and thirty-six years ago. Was Pope Leo XIII thinking about Pope Frances when he wrote, “For she knows that stealing and robbery were forbidden in so special a manner by God, the Author and Defender of right, that He would not allow man even to desire what belonged to another, and that thieves and despoilers, no less than adulterers and idolaters, are shut out from the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Is Pope Francis giving his blessing to those who would steal and rob in the name of income equality? Is Pope Frances violating the Ten Commandments which implore Christians to reject stealing and coveting? American Catholics need to think long and hard about this.

Pope Francis should take a lesson from Pope Leo XIII “On Socialism”

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