Vatican City, Feb 24, 2016 / 05:06 am
On Wednesday Pope Francis cautioned that unless wealth and power are put at the service of society, especially the poor, they risk becoming instruments of corruption, private interests and various forms of abuse.
"Wealth and power are realities which can be good and useful for the common good, if they are put at the service of the poor and of everyone, with justice and charity," the Pope said Feb. 24.
However, when they are instead lived "as a privilege with egoism and power, as too often happens, they are transformed into instruments of corruption and death."
Pope Francis spoke to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for his Wednesday general audience, which he dedicated to his ongoing catechesis on mercy in scripture.