Pope: Attachment to Money Destroys People, Families and Relationships Reflects on the Effects of Greed During Morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY, October 21, 2013 (Zenit.org) - In his homily this morning in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis warned of destruction of people, families and relationships brought on by the attachment to money and greed. The Holy Father reflected on today’s Gospel which recalls the moment when Jesus is asked to resolve a problem between two brothers arguing over their inheritance. “How many families have we seen destroyed by the problem of money?,” the Holy Father asked. “Brother against brother, father against son. This is the first result that this attitude of being attached to money does: it destroys!” “When a person is attached to money, he destroys himself, he destroys the family. Money destroys! It does, doesn’t it? It binds you.” The Pope observed that while money can serve to bring good things to others, especially in works of human development, an attachment can only bring about the destruction of one’s self. Referring to Christ’s parables of the rich man who lives to accumulate treasures for himself, the Holy Father said that such greed leads to an idolatry that destroys one’s relationship with others. “It’s not money, but the attitude, what we call greed. Then too this greed makes you sick, because it makes you think of everything in terms of money,” the Holy Father said. “It destroys you, it makes you sick. And in the end – this is the most important thing – greed is an instrument of idolatry because it goes along a way contrary to what God has done for us.” “Saint Paul,” Pope Francis continued, “tells us that Jesus Christ, who was rich, made Himself poor to enrich us. That is the path of God: humility, to lower oneself in order to serve. Greed, on the other hand, takes us on a contrary path: You, who are a poor human, make yourself God for vanity’s sake. It is idolatry!” The 76 year old pontiff went on to say that for this reason, Christ speaks strongly in the Gospel’s against this attachment to money, which can impede one from trusting in God in moments of need. The path of greed is contrary to the path of God and “destroys all human fraternity. Concluding his homily, Pope Francis called on the faithful that the path taught by Christ is “not the path of poverty for poverty’s sake” but rather to use “the way of poverty as an instrument, so that God may be God, so that He will be the only Lord.” “All the goods that we have, the Lord gives them to us to advance the world, to advance humanity, to help, to help others. Today may the Word of the Lord remain in our hearts: ‘Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not depend on that which they possess.’” Read it online | Forward to a Friend | Comment online Go to top New U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Presents Credentials to Pope Francis Kenneth F. Hackett Excited and Honored For New Post By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY, October 21, 2013 (Zenit.org) - Kenneth F. Hackett, the new U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, formally presented his credentials to Pope Francis today at the Vatican Apostolic Palace. Ambassador Hackett, who served as president of Catholic Relief Services for 18 years, was nominated to the post by President Barack Obama in June. In a statement released by the US Embassy to the Holy See, the new ambassador emphasized the commitment of the United States in engaging religious leaders in order “to address critical global issues.” “The Vatican and the Holy Father have the ability to influence world events in a positive way through the calling of faith and they will continue to be important partners in future collaboration,” Ambassador Hackett stated. “In my time at CRS, I had the personal joy of being involved in efforts to alleviate some of the conditions Pope Francis talks about – poverty, refugees, migration – and I believe there is much we can continue to do together to work further towards promoting human dignity.” The U.S. Embassy also announced the launch of Ambassador Hackett’s blog, where he will share his thoughts during his time in Rome. The U.S. Ambassador wrote his first post today regarding today’s audience with the Holy Father. “I had the honor of presenting my credentials today to His Holiness Pope Francis inside the apostolic palace, and I am excited and honored to begin this new journey,” Ambassador Hackett wrote. Commenting on the shared importance on several issues, including human trafficking, food access and interreligious dialogue, the Ambassador expressed his hope “to deepening, and expanding” the collaboration between the United States and the Holy See.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 00:33:46 +0000
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