The Pope Speaks Out Against Luxury

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Jan 7th 2008 at 10:00AM

Yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI spoke out against luxury. As part of his homily in St. Peter's Basilica to mark the Catholic feast day of the Epiphany, the Pope said that we are creating a world where the haves and the have-nots are far apart. He preached that moderate lifestyles can help redistribute wealth and ease the fight over natural resources calling for "a greater hope, which allows us to prefer the common good of all to the luxury of few and the poverty of many."

This is not the first time the Pope has taken a swing at luxury. Last June the Vatican issued a 'rules of the road' document that said cars should not be used "as a means for outshining other people and arousing a feeling of envy." Wise words, but the Pope may want to tend to his own garden first. in 2005, he reportedly received a BMW SUV and his taste for designer labels such as Prada and Gucci has been well-documented.

Tags: epiphany, luxury, pope benedict, PopeBenedict, speech

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

J Jan 23rd 2008 11:38AM

#46- excellent post.

Apparently, the Church has solved all spiritual matters, and has extra time to take on materal matters now;

For those who cannot recognize the hypocracy of this release, that's why you have the label of "followers".

As to an earlier asssertion by another member that the Church must have been doing something right to be around 2000 years... Wow, great logic- how long have evil, greed, and feudalism been around?

So, I'm guessing in that new world the Pope wants to create, he's still one of the "haves", huh?

Pathetic.....

Clint Jan 7th 2008 11:57AM

What a hypocrite! This coming from a man who wears red Prada loafers to perform mass!

Jaybirdtahoe Jan 7th 2008 9:09PM

Forget the loafers- I'm wondering how many little boys this guy buggered in his day... and how many thousands of sexual abuses he's covered up. No Catholic Church in my family, ever again.

clint Jan 7th 2008 9:26PM

There is that. That big nelly ol' queen, prancing about in his pretty dress and Prada shoes. Is he going to be in the Sex And The City movie?

John Jan 7th 2008 12:00PM

In the Catholic hierarchy, anyone at bishop or above lives better than most. Only those in a monastic order should actually complain about other's people luxuries.

Having said that, I do believe that a lot of the mind-blowing stuff shown in luxist borders on the obscene ($11,000 espresso makers, $250,000 men's watches, 400 ft. yachts?).

JACK Jan 7th 2008 1:51PM

We are "creating" a world in which the haves and the have-nots are increasingly far apart. It might be a good thing for the Pope to read an economic and social history of the world, and particularly the United States. He would have us return to a society in which the great mass of the poor lived on the edge of starvation through life and the Morgans, Vanderbilts, and Rockefellers squandered what today would be billions.

Steve Combe Jan 7th 2008 1:37PM

Perhaps if the Catholic church wants to preach on redistributing wealth it could set an example by selling off the art treasures that it owns and redistributing this wealth to the poor and starving....

JAMES WATERMAN Jan 8th 2008 10:45AM

AFTER HIS HOMILY HE CLIMBED INTO HIS $500,000 BENTLY POPEMOBILE, SPEEDING OFF TO HIS PALATIAL HOME

Tammy Jan 7th 2008 1:47PM

Is the Pope kidding? Tell the Pope to sell all of his belongings and give a portion of his wealth to the needy and people might take him seriously. Talk about losing touch with the masses or with reality.

MontanaJake Jan 7th 2008 2:46PM

The creation of luxury goods takes a massive amount of highly paid domestic labor. Eliminate luxury goods and you eliminate millions of jobs.

Remember when the Democrats put a 10% luxury tax on yachts in the early 90s. The resulting decrease in sales caused 200,000 shipyard workers to lose their jobs in New England.

mimsysc Jan 7th 2008 4:25PM

What did you expect from the Catholic boss? come one

Jason Jan 7th 2008 5:24PM

Strange that the Pope would say that from the Vatican a place furnished in hand polished marble with statues from among the most prestigious artists throughout history while wearing robes that are often laced with 24kt gold in the manner of Louis XIV during his absolutist reign.

Mike Sweeney Jan 7th 2008 5:58PM

Selling off the Vatican's artwork would make a very small and short-lived dent in the world's poverty and would result in a loss of treasures available to the masses to view. Besides, many of these items were donated by individuals over the course of history. Would you want your hand made sculpture given away? I agree with the Pope about moderating our lust for luxuries and riches. It's far to easy to follow along with pop culture and advertisements that say more expensive is better.

Papal vestments including his shoes come with the territory of being head of the Catholic Church. It identifies him as the Church's leader on earth.

Steve Jan 7th 2008 8:56PM

Hey Mike, Not all Catholics are ROMAN Catholic. The Orthodox Patriarchs have NEVER had to parade in pomp and circumstance, nor live so luxurious a life. Speak for yourselves.

Steve Jan 7th 2008 9:00PM

And of course the Pope's demand to be nearly a god on earth, infallibillity et al. is what spit Catholicism and left the west a schismatic church

Sebas Jan 7th 2008 9:23PM

WHERE IS PJP2 WHEN WE NEED HIM!!!!!!!!!!

John C. Randolph Jan 7th 2008 8:53PM

Ah, what would the world be without stupid remarks from the king of all kleptocrats?

The man is a swindler, who shelters child molesters from justice. He makes me wish there was a hell, just for weasels like him.

-jcr

Amanda Jan 7th 2008 9:08PM

Hey John, may God's peace be upon you. The pope is not the king, Christ is. Also he is not a weasel, he is the leader of the Church on earth and his teaching about luxury, like all of his teachings, is infalliable. I don't know where you got the story that he would defend child molesters, because that is a terrible, twisted truth. I will pray for you that you are not the one who ends up in hell.

Steve Jan 7th 2008 9:17PM

Amanda, Did you know that infallibility was settled by a vote in 1871? Not all Bishops present, as many walked out in protest. Not to mention the ENTIRE Eastern Church.
Was the Pope infallible when he taught that Gallileo was in error and the earth was flat.

Steve Jan 7th 2008 9:21PM

Since the first councils of the undivided Church, prior to papal dreams of supremecy, it was understood that the "Church in council" was infallible. You cannot teach those who are not Catholic, if you do not know your faith yourself. The Pope only claims to be infallible when he speaks "ex cathedra". Of course he's still not infallible then either. See previous cite.

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