This morning's General Audience began at 9:30am in Saint Peter's Square, where the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from every corner of the world.
In his speech, the Pope continued his cycle of catecheses on the Commandments, adding his meditation on the theme: Thou shalt not steal (Biblical passage: 1 Timothy 6:7-10).
After having summarized His catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Continuing the explanation of the Decalogue, today, we arrive at the Seventh Word: Do not steal.
Hearing this commandment, we think of we think about the themes of theft and respect for the property of others. There is no culture in which theft and abuse of goods are lawful; in fact, human sensitivity is very susceptible to the defence of possession.
But it is worthwhile to open ourselves up to a wider reading of this Word, focusing on the theme of the property of goods in the light of Christian wisdom.
In the social doctrine of the Church we speak of the universal destination of goods. What does this mean? Let us listen to what the Catechism says: In the beginning, God entrusted the earth and its resources to the common management of humanity, to take care of it, to dominate it with its work and to enjoy its fruits. The goods of creation are destined for all mankind (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2402). And again: The universal destination of goods remains primary, even if the promotion of the common good requires respect for private property, the rights to it and to its exercise (Catechism, 2403). *
Providence, however, has not arranged a world in series, there are differences, different conditions, different cultures, so we can live by providing for one another. The world is rich in resources to ensure all primary goods. Yet many live in scandalous poverty and the resources, used without criteria, are deteriorating. But the world is one! Humanity is one! ** The wealth of the world, today, is in the hands of the minority, of the few, and we see the poverty, even the misery and suffering, of many, of the majority.
If there is hunger on earth, it is not because food is missing! Indeed, driven by market needs, we sometimes get to destroy it, it is thrown out. What is lacking is a free and far-sighted entrepreneurship, which ensures adequate production, and an approach of solidarity, which ensures fair distribution. The Catechism also says: "Man, using created goods, must consider the external things that he legitimately possesses, not only as his own, but also in common, in the sense that they can benefit not only him but also others (Catechism, 2404). Every kind of wealth, in order to be good, must have a social dimension.
In this perspective the positive and broad meaning of the commandment do not steal appears. The ownership of a good makes him who owns it an administrator of Providence (Catechism, 2404). No one is the absolute master of property: we are all administrators of property. Possession is a responsibility: But I am rich in everything ... - this is a responsibility you have. And every good removed from the logic of God's Providence is betrayed, it is betrayed in its deepest sense. What I really own is what I can give. This is the measure to evaluate how I manage wealth, whether good or bad; this word is important: what I really own is what I can give. If I can give, I am open, then I am rich not only in what I possess, but also in generosity, generosity also as a duty to give wealth, so that everyone can participate. In fact, if I can not give something, it is because that thing has possession of me, has power over me and I am a slave to it. The possession of goods is an opportunity to multiply them with creativity and to use them with generosity, and thus to grow in love and freedom.
Christ himself, despite being God, did not consider it a privilege to be like God; instead he emptied himself (Phil 2: 6-7) and enriched us with his poverty (cf 2 Cor 8,9).
While humanity struggles to possess more, God redeems us by making himself poor: that Crucified Man has paid an inestimable ransom for all of us to God the Father who is rich in mercy (Eph 2: 4; cf Jas 5,11 ). What makes us rich are not goods but love. So many times we have heard what the people of God say: The devil enters through our pockets. We start with the love of money, hunger to possess; then comes vanity: Ah, I am rich and I am proud; and, in the end, there is pride. This is the devil's way of acting in us. But the doors of entry are our pockets.
Dear brothers and sisters, once again Jesus Christ reveals to us the full meaning of the Scriptures. Do not steal means: love with your goods, use your means to love as you can. Then your life becomes good and possession truly becomes a gift. Because life is not the time to possess but to love. Thank you.
______________________________
* cf Encyclical, Laudato si’, 67: Every community can take what it needs for its survival from the goodness of the earth, but it also has the duty to protect it and to guarantee the continuity of its fertility for future generations. Ultimately, 'the Lord's is the earth' (Ps 24: 1), the earth and all it contains belong to him (Dt 10: 14). Therefore God denies any claim to absolute property: The lands can not be sold forever, because the earth is mine and you are with me as strangers and guests (Lv 25:23).
[2] cf Saint Paul VI, Encyclical Populorum progressio, 17: But every man is a member of society: it belongs to all humanity. It is not only this or that man, but all men are called to this plenary development ... Heirs of past generations and beneficiaries of the work of our contemporaries, we have obligations to all, and we can not lose interest in those who come after us to enlarge the circle of the human family. Universal solidarity, which is a fact and for us a benefit, is also a duty.
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and the Holy Father offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. To English-speaking visitors, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially those from Denmark, Japan, the Philippines and the United States of America. I offer a special greeting to the participants in the first International Men’s Meeting here in Rome. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the Lord’s blessings of joy and peace. God bless you!
In his speech, the Pope continued his cycle of catecheses on the Commandments, adding his meditation on the theme: Thou shalt not steal (Biblical passage: 1 Timothy 6:7-10).
After having summarized His catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.
Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the General Audience
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Continuing the explanation of the Decalogue, today, we arrive at the Seventh Word: Do not steal.
Hearing this commandment, we think of we think about the themes of theft and respect for the property of others. There is no culture in which theft and abuse of goods are lawful; in fact, human sensitivity is very susceptible to the defence of possession.
But it is worthwhile to open ourselves up to a wider reading of this Word, focusing on the theme of the property of goods in the light of Christian wisdom.
In the social doctrine of the Church we speak of the universal destination of goods. What does this mean? Let us listen to what the Catechism says: In the beginning, God entrusted the earth and its resources to the common management of humanity, to take care of it, to dominate it with its work and to enjoy its fruits. The goods of creation are destined for all mankind (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2402). And again: The universal destination of goods remains primary, even if the promotion of the common good requires respect for private property, the rights to it and to its exercise (Catechism, 2403). *
Providence, however, has not arranged a world in series, there are differences, different conditions, different cultures, so we can live by providing for one another. The world is rich in resources to ensure all primary goods. Yet many live in scandalous poverty and the resources, used without criteria, are deteriorating. But the world is one! Humanity is one! ** The wealth of the world, today, is in the hands of the minority, of the few, and we see the poverty, even the misery and suffering, of many, of the majority.
If there is hunger on earth, it is not because food is missing! Indeed, driven by market needs, we sometimes get to destroy it, it is thrown out. What is lacking is a free and far-sighted entrepreneurship, which ensures adequate production, and an approach of solidarity, which ensures fair distribution. The Catechism also says: "Man, using created goods, must consider the external things that he legitimately possesses, not only as his own, but also in common, in the sense that they can benefit not only him but also others (Catechism, 2404). Every kind of wealth, in order to be good, must have a social dimension.
In this perspective the positive and broad meaning of the commandment do not steal appears. The ownership of a good makes him who owns it an administrator of Providence (Catechism, 2404). No one is the absolute master of property: we are all administrators of property. Possession is a responsibility: But I am rich in everything ... - this is a responsibility you have. And every good removed from the logic of God's Providence is betrayed, it is betrayed in its deepest sense. What I really own is what I can give. This is the measure to evaluate how I manage wealth, whether good or bad; this word is important: what I really own is what I can give. If I can give, I am open, then I am rich not only in what I possess, but also in generosity, generosity also as a duty to give wealth, so that everyone can participate. In fact, if I can not give something, it is because that thing has possession of me, has power over me and I am a slave to it. The possession of goods is an opportunity to multiply them with creativity and to use them with generosity, and thus to grow in love and freedom.
Christ himself, despite being God, did not consider it a privilege to be like God; instead he emptied himself (Phil 2: 6-7) and enriched us with his poverty (cf 2 Cor 8,9).
While humanity struggles to possess more, God redeems us by making himself poor: that Crucified Man has paid an inestimable ransom for all of us to God the Father who is rich in mercy (Eph 2: 4; cf Jas 5,11 ). What makes us rich are not goods but love. So many times we have heard what the people of God say: The devil enters through our pockets. We start with the love of money, hunger to possess; then comes vanity: Ah, I am rich and I am proud; and, in the end, there is pride. This is the devil's way of acting in us. But the doors of entry are our pockets.
Dear brothers and sisters, once again Jesus Christ reveals to us the full meaning of the Scriptures. Do not steal means: love with your goods, use your means to love as you can. Then your life becomes good and possession truly becomes a gift. Because life is not the time to possess but to love. Thank you.
______________________________
* cf Encyclical, Laudato si’, 67: Every community can take what it needs for its survival from the goodness of the earth, but it also has the duty to protect it and to guarantee the continuity of its fertility for future generations. Ultimately, 'the Lord's is the earth' (Ps 24: 1), the earth and all it contains belong to him (Dt 10: 14). Therefore God denies any claim to absolute property: The lands can not be sold forever, because the earth is mine and you are with me as strangers and guests (Lv 25:23).
[2] cf Saint Paul VI, Encyclical Populorum progressio, 17: But every man is a member of society: it belongs to all humanity. It is not only this or that man, but all men are called to this plenary development ... Heirs of past generations and beneficiaries of the work of our contemporaries, we have obligations to all, and we can not lose interest in those who come after us to enlarge the circle of the human family. Universal solidarity, which is a fact and for us a benefit, is also a duty.
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and the Holy Father offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. To English-speaking visitors, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially those from Denmark, Japan, the Philippines and the United States of America. I offer a special greeting to the participants in the first International Men’s Meeting here in Rome. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the Lord’s blessings of joy and peace. God bless you!
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