Understanding the Economy of Pope Francis

Pope Francis speaks about economic matters in a rather provocative way: This economy kills. His manner of teaching is more exhortatory than analytical. His distinctive Argentinian economic experience leads him to emphasize economic realities that his predecessors did not address, in particular the world of finance. Often when Pope Francis speaks about the economy, he is speaking about finance, a topic not often addressed in previous Catholic social teaching. His economic vision emphasizes the three Ts (in Spanish) of land, shelter, and work, and he brings new emphasis to the corporal works of mercy in providing practical assistance to the poor. Pope Francis falls within the Catholic social teaching tradition, but his approach is to emphasize some aspects more than others rather than present a comprehensive view.