Vatican City, Apr 22, 2009 / 10:11 am
Today at his general audience in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope focused his attention on the monk Ambrose Autpert. Drawing on the monk's teachings, the Pope pointed to greed as the root of the global economic crisis.
Continuing his series of teachings on the great writers of the Eastern and Western Churches in the middle ages, the Holy Father explained that Ambrose Autpert "is a little-known author of the eighth century.
Born to a high-ranking family in Provence, France, Autpert was tutor to the future emperor Charlemagne before traveling to Italy to enter a Benedictine monastery. He was ordained a priest in 761 and was elected abbot 16 years later. He died on January 30, 784.
As a monk and abbot, he observed “the lust for profit of the rich and powerful members of the society of his time,” and was moved to write especially to them. In his letter, he denounced, as did the Apostle Paul, “greed as the root of all evil," explained Pope Benedict, highlighting how, "in the light of the current world economic crisis, this still has great relevance. From this root, from greed, this crisis was born."
Autpert's teaching also has relevance the wealthy, who “have the duty to struggle against greed, against the desire to possess, to show off, against a false concept of freedom understood as being able to dispose of everything in accordance with one's own will. The rich must also discover the authentic path of truth, love and a just life," Benedict said.