Greed is dangerous for society, Pope says on Angelus – Swiss Catholic portal

“What legacy do I want to leave? Money in the bank, […] Or the happy people around me? This is the intercession of Pope Francis in Angeles on July 31, 2022. The day after his return from Canada, as he does every Sunday, the Pope led the Marian prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

Referring to families divided “because of heredity”, the Pope devoted his meditation to the vices of “greed”, the “unbridled thirst for possessions”. It is a disease that destroys people, he said, by creating “an addiction.” Then the man becomes a “slave,” the Pope said, before launching into “use money yes, not serve money.”

Greed is a dangerous disease for society, the pope continued, pointing out that “an injustice unprecedented in history is that a few have much and the many have nothing.” Similarly, he noted that the thirst for resources and wealth is “always involved” in wars and conflicts, especially the “arms trade”, and “corruption”.

If it is “right” to aspire to be “rich,” Peter’s successor encouraged him to be “rich according to God.” The Pope explained that this wealth created by compassion and mercy “does not impoverish anyone, does not create strife and division” and “loves to give, distribute and share”. Therefore, “life is not about what one has” but about “good relationships: with God, with others, and with those who are less”.

Warning of the “greed that is in everyone’s heart,” the Bishop of Rome left the meeting with a series of questions: “Am I tempted to sacrifice relationships and time spent with others, in the name of money and opportunity? […] Am I tempted to sacrifice law and justice on the altar of greed? […] What legacy do I want to leave behind? The money in the bank, the material, or the happy people around me, the unforgettable good deeds, the people who helped me grow and mature? (cath.ch/imedia/ak/bh)