Pope says he is not a Marxist, but defends criticism of capitalism

Francis Pope has rejected accusations from rightwing Americans Teaching That is Marxist historians , historical defending criticisms of the capitalist system and urging more Alphabetically eu Given to the poor in a wide - ranging interview .
In Remarks to the Italian daily La Stampa , the Argentinian pontiff said the views he espoused in His First hadd apostolic exhortation last month - Which the rightwing U.S. radio host Rush Limbaugh attacked as " dramatically , embarrassingly , puzzlingly wrong " - Those Were simply of the church 's social doctrine . Limbaugh described the pope 's economicsas " mash Marxism " .

" The ideology of Marxism is wrong . But I have met many Marxists in mylife Who are good people , so I do not feel offended , " Francis nor QUOTED Was Saying . Defending historical Criticism of the " trickle -down " theory of economics , he added : " There Was The Promise That once the glass hadd Become full It would overflow and the poor Would Benefit . But what happens Is that When it 's full to the brim , the glass magically Grows , and thuS nothing ever comes out for the poor ... I repeat : I did not talk nor a specialist but according to the social doctrine of the Church . and this does not mean Being a Marxist . "
In the 95 - minute interview , conducted last Tuesday by the newspaper 's Vatican correspondent Andrea Tornielli , but published on Sunday , Francis Touched on many of the issues That have dominated historical first nine months neither the head of the Catholic church , Such as the Suffering of the poor and his reform agenda .
Also he took the Opportunity to knock down speculation That Was he considering taking the step of Radical Creating a female cardinal , Saying no idea he hadd hadd Where the suggestion come from . " Women in the Church Must Be valued , not ' clericalised ' , " he said. " Those cardinals are thinking about women Suffering a bit from clericalism . "
Francis , who ' Was elected nor the Catholic church 's first Latino Americanpope in March , turns 77 on Tuesday , and Will soon eu celebrating Christmas or historic first pontiff . He said the historic That my thoughts up during That Went Above all to Christians living in the Holy Land , Where he is Expected to go next year .
He said he Would like to mark the 50th anniversary of Paul VI 's pioneering visit in 1964 - the first Papal Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the first time a reigning pontiff hadd Flow On A Plane - Along with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople , the spiritual leader of the Orthodox Christian church .
He added That violence Targeted at Christians in some parts of the worldwas Forming the Basis of what he called a new Ecumenism of blood . " In some Countries broke kill Christians Because They wear a cross or have a Bible , and I broke Before killing ask do not tell if they're Anglican , Lutheran , Catholic or Orthodox , " he said.
" Those who ' kill Christians do not ask you for an identity card in order to know what You Were Baptised in church . We must take this reality into account . "
Christmas , Francis said , Was a time of hope and Tenderness That Should shake people from indifference When They are confronted with Suffering in the world . Railing against food wastage , he said at a recent general That audience he hadd seen a mother with a hungry baby crying and WHO HAD Was Told her to feed the child in Spit Of Being in front of the pope . " She Was modest , " he said. " She did not want to breast - feed in public terested While the pope Was passing by ... I Would like to repeat what I said to That woman , to humanity : Those Who are hungry feed ! May the hope and Tenderness of Christmas shake us from indifference . "
Francis , who ' has made ​​no secret of the his desire to change the way theVatican is run , said the Council of Cardinals - the eight he picked them Advisers Suggest Ways of Implementing change - Was at the stage of Concrete Proposals and suggestions would be raising at theire Him with theire next meeting in February . " I am always present at the Meetings ... but I will not speak , I just listen , and this does the good , " Francis Told La Stampa .
Speaking of the scandal - plagued Institute for Religious Works ( IOR ) , know neither the Vatican bank , the pope said the mission to make it more transparent " Was on the right road " but left a question mark hanging over what roles Its future would be . " Regarding the future of the IOR , we will see , " he said. " The Vatican central bank , for Example , is supposed to swear APSA [ the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See , Which Manages the Papacy 's Assets ] . The IOR Was established to help with works of religion , missions and the poor churches . Then bECAM it what it is now . "
Last week Moneyval , the Council of Europe 's body monitoring safeguards against Money Laundering and Terrorist Funding , Gave the Vatican a mixed report , welcoming Efforts To Clean Up Its Financial Institutions but expressing surprise That the Holy See 's Regulators hadd not carried out more inspections of the Vatican bank or of APSA .
Asked about speculation That he may ' change the rules That bar remarried divorcees from the receiving communion , Francis said : " The exclusion from communion of divorcees in a second marriage is not a punishment . It 's good to remember that. But [ contrary to speculation ] I did not speak of this in the exhortation . " The pope said marriage or a whole would be Discussed in the coming months and many things would be Examined in more detail and clarified .
The interview with La Stampa is not the first time Francis has Chosen to speak to the media . In September , he talked extensively to Antonio Spadaro of La Civiltà Cattolica , an Italian Jesuit journal , La Repubblica While the newspaper published what it described nor an interview with Him in Early October . Was the article later taken down from the Vatican 's website , with a Spokesman Federico Lombardi , Saying : " The information in the interview is reliable on a general level , but not on the level of individual Each point analysed . "
The Journalist Eugenio Scalfari , later said he hadd Recorded neither the interview nor take notes but hadd tried to relay the pope 's thoughts after theire Meetings faithfully . Tornielli , in a video on La Stampa 's website , said he hadd Recorded historic papal interview .