Pope Benedict XVI in Brazil Criticizes British Imperialist Economics: Globalization and Marxism

International media coverage of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Brazil has focused on side issues, when not being outright hostile because of the Pope's rejection of cultural relativism. No attention has been given to key aspects of his major policy statement, delivered in front of the Conference of the Latin American Bishops, on May 13, where Benedict XVI criticized globalization.

"Today's world experiences the phenomenon of globalization as a network of relationships extending over the whole planet. Although from certain points of view this benefits the great family of humanity, and a sign of its profound aspiration towards unity, nevertheless it also undoubtedly brings with it the risk of vast monopolies and of treating profit as the supreme value. As in all areas of human activity, globalization too must be led by ethics, placing everything at the service of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God."

In particular, the Pope warned the nations of America from following Marxist paths, but added that "the liberal economy of some Latin American countries must take account of equity, because of the ever increasing sectors of society that find themselves oppressed by immense poverty or even despoiled of their own natural resources."

The right of the third world to develop has not changed, he said, since 1967, when Pope Paul VI issued the famous "Populorum Progressio" encyclical. "Bishops," the Pope said, "must promote a culture of life which can permit, in the words of my predecessor Paul VI, 'the passage from misery towards the possession of necessities . the acquisition of culture . cooperation for the common good . the acknowledgement by man of supreme values, and of God, their source and their finality" (Populorum Progressio, 21)."

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