Pope Benedict Pins Economic Crisis On 'Crisis Of Faith' In His Christmas Speech To The Roman Curia

By Francis X. Rocca
Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Europe's economic and financial crisis is the consequence of an "ethical crisis" and a "crisis of faith," Pope Benedict XVI said Thursday (Dec. 22), resulting in the triumph of selfishness over social responsibility.

Benedict made his remarks in his annual Christmas speech to the Roman Curia, the Catholic Church's central administration at the Vatican.

The pope acknowledged that "such values as solidarity, commitment to one's neighbor and responsibility toward the poor and suffering are largely uncontroversial," but said the "motivation is often lacking ... to make sacrifices."

While the remedy for selfishness lies in "proclamation of the gospel," the pope said Europe is now undergoing a crisis of faith evident in the troubles of the Roman Catholic Church.

"Regular churchgoers are growing older all the time and ... their number is constantly diminishing," and "recruitment of priests is stagnating" while "skepticism and unbelief are growing."

Benedict drew a contrast between Europe's anemic religious life and Africa's "joyful passion for faith," which he experienced last month during a three-day visit to the West African country of Benin.

"None of the faith fatigue that is so prevalent (in Europe), none of the oft-encountered sense of having had enough of Christianity, was detectable there," the pope said.

Benedict noted the benefits of religious faith to African society, which he said provides the "strength to serve Christ in hard-pressed situations of human suffering, the strength to put oneself at his disposal, without looking round for one's own advantage."

Below, look at a slideshow of images from Pope Benedict XVI's Christmas address to the Roman Curia:

Comments

[calabashcrasher]

09:43 AM on 12/29/2011

I'm not catholic and I wonder where the idea for all the huge, expensive, highly richly decorated, buildings (churches), come from..and the the intricate ceremonies, and dress connected...and all the charity begging when the vatican has untold billions in art work, jewelry,etc;, that could be used to feed and house needy millions..Oh, and did I mention that the vatican also has the worlds largest collection of pornographic books, movies, literatrure, etc, for study so they can try to understand why all of their priests are pedaphiles...can anyone explain this??? not being a smarty, just curious...

[lastwarning2earth rev14]

10:18 PM on 12/26/2011

If the pope is the sucessor of Peter, well how come Peter had a wife'?

Its just a question

[yoyoming]

02:17 PM on 12/26/2011

If the Pope is so concerned about a "crisis of faith" and the growing ranks of unbelievers, then he should get a very large mirror and see just who is staring back at him. The church demonstrates to us over and over again that they are much more concerned about perservation of their institution and wealth and rigid enforcement of orthodoxy. They are considerably less concerned about the actual teachings of Jesus. Obedience and submission is valued much more than the seeking of knowledge and understanding. And this Pope is leading the charge backward.

[tpk]

10:15 AM on 12/25/2011

The economic crisis was created by the politicians who believed that deregulating financial institutions would lead to greater economic prosperity.
The pope is wrong again, and so are the politicians.

[jumpingjohnny]

09:00 AM on 12/25/2011

If he looks hard enough he will find the devil in the details!

[Vapula]

05:14 AM on 12/25/2011

I don't think so. The economic mess was caused by greed and fraud. Although Spengler did assert that empires passed away when they lost faith in God.

[publiusmax]

06:06 AM on 12/25/2011

The empire that is most often cited as an empire that fell because of it's lack of religion fell after it traded Jupiter in for Jesus.

[f0rTyLeGz]

02:19 AM on 12/25/2011

Isn't the Pope supposed to be on the front page near the top on Xmas? I am pretty outraged!

[VBH1622]

11:53 PM on 12/24/2011

Yup, things are certainly better in Africa than in Europe.

[cabrobst]

09:27 PM on 12/24/2011

The pope sits on a golden throne surrounded by glitter and he complains about the materialism of other? "Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven," Vatican City.

[lastwarning2earth rev14]

10:21 PM on 12/26/2011

You can't buy Gods favor, but I get your drift

[Zariana]

06:12 PM on 12/24/2011

Faith is believing the corporate leaders will do their job honestly.
Reason is putting the laws in place to force them to, then stripping away all their wealth and sentencing them to hard time if they don't.

I pick Reason.

[ttsgw]

04:33 PM on 12/24/2011

But they do have faith. In market economy and greed.

[ThinkCreeps]

06:01 PM on 12/24/2011

So they do have something in common with ol' ratzinger after all.

[bryanzth]

02:26 PM on 12/24/2011

Interest in the RCC is declining and vocations to the priesthood are flagging.... Hmmmm....

And no one in business seems to be at all paying attention to the Beatitudes, Parables, Letter of James, the Lord's Prayer and the Great Commandment....

COULD IT BE THAT the RCC has kinda lost its way? And that other churches, especially the thumper churches, have become heretical in terms of what Jesus said must be done to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth??? 

This man is right, but the delivery could be anything but effective. We need another Pope. Retire or the entire RCC goes down the dumper. Not to mention poor Jesus's  messages...

We are on the way to an Orwellian Paradise unless the trends are stopped. And the RCC has no tools with which to deal with this phenomenon.

BZ.

[A-Superstitionist]

05:58 PM on 12/24/2011

Electing Benny Hex as head of the roman catholic pedophile protection agency is the best thing that happened to mankind in the past 10 years. He should not retire at all and I hope he lives a long long life driving this bastion of crime and discrimination forever... into the ground.

[Ron Dernick]

01:36 PM on 12/24/2011

Spoken like a true German..linking money to the problem..I think it was due to the $$ the church had to spend on defending priests for their abuse of under age boys and girls-pedophile ..and also..people are much more educated today..more educated than the clergy especially since the scholarly communities like the Jesuits and others are not attracting the top intellectual men to become members of their community..the crisis is that the church is outdated..and going through their own internal crisis

[Gregor53]

01:31 PM on 12/24/2011

I believe Greed is much more responsible for it than a crisis in faith. Besides, some of those that have benefited the greatest from the down turn also profess to be the most religious. Depends upon what one worships.

[smcircle]

03:22 PM on 12/24/2011

Greed is most definitely in conflict with faith, assuming faith is of God and not for the love of money and power. There are many who claim to be of God as they ignore some of God's biggest suggestions, as in compassion and charity. We do see a lot of that from those who are ignoring the needs of the many for the purpose of benefiting and protecting the wealthy at the expense of the unwealthy. And it is so funny to see this and hear them claim to be of God, these wealthy and apathedic. I agree with you and I have developed a nasty taste for hypocrisy of tea...

[simon Bar]

01:27 PM on 12/24/2011

Hey Ratzinger, this is the most ridiculous statement I've heard from you. Although I don't read all your pearls of delusion.