Pope Francis ‘Favoured Ideas That Keep Poor People Poor’ – Guido Fawkes

Pope Francis ‘Favoured Ideas That Keep Poor People Poor’

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There’s only one international news story in town as Parliament grinds back into gear: the death of Pope Francis. The funeral will probably be attended by a senior Royal rather than Starmer, but another jet-setting Labour minister will no doubt get the gig…

Francis’s reforming (and free market sceptic) legacy is panned in a searing screed from the Wall Street Journal editorial board this morning:

“His papacy was marked by anti-Americanism, and not merely against Donald Trump. He seemed to believe that Latin America is poor because the United States is rich. That’s a recipe for stagnation and despair because the real reasons so many in Latin America languish in poverty are at home: Lack of the rule of law, business-government collusion, protectionism, and other barriers to human flourishing… Less forgivable was his deal with Beijing as pope that gave the Communist Party influence in the choice of bishops. Conditions for Catholics in China have worsened, though the Vatican has renewed the kowtow several times. The Vatican has stayed silent on the plight of publisher Jimmy Lai, who is China’s best-known imprisoned Catholic.”

Francis’s many devoted defenders – prominent across broadcast media right now – would no doubt dispute that interpretation. You could say the Journal shows no mercy…

And as for the runners and riders, Guido notes there are a number of solid Conservatives in the offing, including Hungarian Cardinal Erdo and Guinea’s Cardinal Sarah. Take note Tories, no betting on this one, it’s up to God…