Pope Francis the 'pontiff of the poor', says Greece's Alexis Tsipras

[rug]

Leftist opposition leader says he and Francis saw eye-to-eye on banks, profits and 'pan-human values' during Vatican talks



Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras’s meeting with Pope Francis followed months of clandestine negotiations. Photograph: Martin Godwin

Helena Smith in Athens
The Guardian, Thursday 18 September 2014 14.38 EDT

Greece's opposition leader Alexis Tsipras – a radical leftist and self-described atheist – has hailed Pope Francis as the "pontiff of the poor" after meeting him for talks at the Vatican.

The Greek firebrand, among the loudest critics of the politics of austerity, emerged from discussions with the pope saying the two men had seen eye-to-eye on such issues as banks, profits and the need for Europe's left to deepen dialogue with the church. "We come from different ideological starting points," said Tsipras, Europe's first leftwing leader to be invited to the Vatican. "But we meet on (the matter) of pan-human values."

The dialogue had ranged from Europe's economic crisis, the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, the gulf between rich and poor and the tragedy of uncontrolled migration, he said.

The Argentinian-born pontiff agreed to meet the politician after months of clandestine negotiations between European leftists and the Holy See.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/18/pope-francis-alexis-tsipras-vatican

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_Tsipras

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_of_the_Radical_Left

[littlemissmartypants]

1. Thanks, rug.

So this is the best news I have had in a while. What does that say about my life? Or maybe, my perspective?

?

Thanks for your post.
Love,
Lmsp 🙌

[rug]

2. It means you have hope.

As do I.

[LiberalAndProud]

3. I have to agree with Tsipras.

"There is a need to create an ecumenical alliance against poverty, inequalities, against the logic that markets and profits are above people."