I’m no Marxist: Pope Francis tells his critics
16 Dec 2013 5:52 AM IST
Pope Francis, responding to conservative criticisms that his economic and social ideas smack of communism, said in an Italian newspaper interview on Sunday that he is not a Marxist but that even Marxists can be good people.
Francis also denied reports that he would name a woman cardinal, said there was good progress in cleaning up Vatican finances and confirmed that he would visit Israel and the Palestinian territories next year, La Stampa said. Last month, American radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who has a huge following in the United States, railed against the pope for written comments made on the world economy. Limbaugh, who is not Catholic, said that parts of the document were ‘pure Marxism coming out of the mouth of the pope’and suggested that someone else had written the papal document for him. He also accused the pope of going ‘beyond Catholicism’and being ‘purely political’.
Asked about the accusations, which sparked a debate in the media and blogosphere last month, Francis, a member of the all-male Jesuit order associated with progressive social policies, said, ‘Marxist ideology is wrong. But in my life I have known many Marxists who are good people, so I don’t feel offended.’
Francis also denied reports that he would name a woman cardinal, said there was good progress in cleaning up Vatican finances and confirmed that he would visit Israel and the Palestinian territories next year, La Stampa said. Last month, American radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who has a huge following in the United States, railed against the pope for written comments made on the world economy. Limbaugh, who is not Catholic, said that parts of the document were ‘pure Marxism coming out of the mouth of the pope’and suggested that someone else had written the papal document for him. He also accused the pope of going ‘beyond Catholicism’and being ‘purely political’.
Asked about the accusations, which sparked a debate in the media and blogosphere last month, Francis, a member of the all-male Jesuit order associated with progressive social policies, said, ‘Marxist ideology is wrong. But in my life I have known many Marxists who are good people, so I don’t feel offended.’
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