Francis to faithful: Give up your riches to help the poor

[Deep13]

20. I guess I'm taking a somewhat longer view.

The medieval Church actually did enforce charitable obligations (there was no welfare system yet) and reciprocal obligations of the rich and powerful--not always consistently, but it did do it. The version of Christianity it preached was power through humility. Medieval society worshipped a penniless preacher who accepted humility to the degree of being tortured and killed, and through it he was the king of kings, a person of unimaginable power. So the Catholic image of humility, at least in theory, is one of power and virtue, and the nobility knew it. The reason so many nobles gave to the church or became monks is because they knew their lives were the antithesis of Christian virtue--they knew they were going to hell and it scared them. That's where the ecclesiastical power came from.

I am skeptical and will have to see if his actions match his rhetoric. His past in persecuting gays and obstructing the rights of women is not encouraging. So far, his outward signs (not actual policy) is encouraging. Francis of Assisi was the first beggar monk. Previously monks were personally poor, but their orders were rich. Francis made both poor, riding the wave of reforms that started in the 11th century. So far the new guy has eschewed the fancy clothes and cars of previous popes. He refused to sit on the papal throne. And he intends to give mass in a prison, washing the feet of 12 prisoners. If his real actions meet his symbolic message, it will be a significant rebuke to capitalism and a real C-change for one of the world's largest corporations.

But, I remain skeptical and will have to wait and see.