Pope Francis's Liberation Theoretical Analysis

Recently, Pope Francis appealed to world leaders to seek a new economic model to help the poor, and to shun policies that “sacrifice human lives on the altar of money and profit”. It was the second time during his trip to South America that Francis used a major speech to excoriate unbridled capitalism and champion the rights of the poor. He urged politicians and business leaders “not to yield to an economic model which is idolatrous, which needs to sacrifice human lives on the altar of money and profit”. Such eye raising statements to come from the pope which have even caught the attention of hopeful presidential candidates in the United States.

Modern economics have widened the gap between rich and poor in society. This gap can be illustrated by the fact that the three wealthiest individuals in the world have assets that exceed those of the poorest ten percent of the world’s population.

Recently in Christian theology and ethics there has been a drive to Liberation Theologies. Most forms of liberation theology were born in the social turmoil of the 1960s. These theologies which aim to liberate oppressed people and groups and seeks to
Sociology and economics, gives theology a more informed understanding of the plight of the poor and oppressed. While critics have proposed that these theologies have a Marxist sympathy. This isn’t entirely true because the core of liberation theology has never been Marxist. “It is rather the compassionate identification with the poor and their struggle for justice, inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus himself, which is at its heart. “Instead of social analysis, which was seen as a methodological tool, from the outset liberation theology placed greater emphasis on the crucial role of God’s people committed praxis- or, in other words, the Christian communities’ action inspired by faith and informed theological reflection”