Pope Francis criticises those involved in weapons industry

Pope Francis has labelled Christians that are involved in the arms industry or invest in the sector “hypocrites”. The comments come after the Pope published his encyclical in climate change and the environment.

The Pope set aside his prepared speech as he addressed a really of young people in Turin, Italy, at the weekend. In the commentary he built on comments he has previously made about war and events of the First and Second World Wars, noting the “tragedy of the Shoah”, the Hebrew term for the Holocaust.

He said, “If you trust only men, you have lost. It makes me think of one thing: people, executives, entrepreneurs who call themselves Christians, and manufacturing weapons. That leads to a bit of distrust.”

The Pope continued to criticise those that invest and profit from the arms industry stating, “duplicity is the currency of today […] they say one thing and do another”. He continued, “There is hypocrisy to speak of peace and manufacture weapons.”

During the speech the Pope also addressed wastefulness, criticising the “culture of waste” we have today where we discard what is no longer useful, likening it to the way the elderly and young are “discarded”. In Turin 40% of young people are unemployed, the Pope blamed the current economic system that puts money above society.

Photo: Aleteia Image Department via Flickr

Further reading:

Pope Francis speaks out against fracking and environmental devastation

Pope Francis warns of ‘unprecedented destruction’ if climate change is not addressed

Pope encyclical: we need a new dialogue to shape the future of our planet

Pope Francis urged to divest Vatican from fossil fuels

Campaign calls on Pope to support fossil fuel divestment