Pope Francis, in newspaper interview, laments ‘moral decay’ of society

July 01, 2014

In an interview with Franca Giansoldati of the Roman newspaper Il Messaggero, Pope Francis decried society’s moral decay.

Among the highlights of the interview, which was published on June 29:

• “For us [who came of age after the Second Vatican Council], the great light was Paul VI. For me, Evangelii Nuntiandi [Paul VI’s apostolic exhortation on evangelization] remains a pastoral document never surpassed.”
• our “epoch of change” is one of “moral decay,” manifested in the worldwide phenomenon of corruption and the sexual exploitation of the young, at times by people who are old enough to be their grandparents
• the Pope, who expressed concern about Europe’s low birth rate, said he is equally concerned by material poverty and moral poverty
• the Gospel, said the Pope, does not condemn the rich, but riches that have been made into an idol
• “the Communists have stolen the banner” of poverty; “the banner of the poor is Christian; poverty is at the heart of the Gospel”
• the Pope said that his program of curial reform is simply that expressed by the cardinals during their discussions before the conclave of March 2013

 

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Further information:

• Papa Francesco: «Il comunismo ci ha rubato la bandiera» (Il Messaggero)
• Pope Francis: Il Messaggero interview (Vatican Radio)