Pope Francis criticises repression of pensioners: “Instead of paying for social justice, they paid for pepper spray”

He Pope Francis He was the main speaker at an event to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the first meeting of Popular Movements, held in the VaticanThere, the Supreme Pontiff analyzed the global social reality and harshly criticized the actions of the Javier Milei government: “The Government stood firm and Instead of paying for social justice, he paid for the pepper sprayit suited him. Keep that in mind.”

In his speech, the leader of the Catholic Church He asked the representatives of the Popular Movements to continue fighting “land, roof and work” something that he described as the “sacred rights“. In addition, Francis claimed the concept of social justice and referred in critical terms to the social situation in Argentina.

Pope Francis’s criticism of repression

The event took place at the Dicastery for Integral Human Development. There, numerous members of Popular Movements – among whom was the leader Juan Grabois -, gathered to listen to the Argentine’s words.

Although Francis never directly named the government of Javier Mileiif he made an allusion to a repression that occurred “ a week ago“. On this, the Supreme Pontiff stated: “They made me see a repressiona week ago or a little less. Workers, people who were demanding their rights in the street. And the police were rejecting them with something that is the most expensive thing there is, “that top quality pepper spray”

Along these lines, the Argentine criticised: “And they had no right to claim what was theirs, because they were rebellious, communists, no, no. The Government stood firm and instead of paying for social justice, it paid for pepper spray, it suited it. Keep that in mind,” he said.

Also present at the event were: Alejandro Gramajopart of the Union of Workers of the Popular Economywho referred to the victories and demands of the movement, while denouncing that in Argentina ““People are starving”. Faced with this, the Supreme Pontiff seemed to allude to this reality when he declared: “Please, let no one be left behind. There are so many people lying on the streets, so many people who have nothing to eat, so many people who are begging for something, who have lost their homes, who have lost their jobs. They are people who did not have the capacity to move forward.”.

Francis advocated for social justice

In different passages of his speech, Francis praised the work of popular movements, called for continuing to fight for social justice – he concluded by stating that it was “created by the Church” – and criticized the accumulation of wealth without limits: “Blind competition to have more and more money is not a creative force, but an unhealthy attitude and a path to perdition. Such irresponsible, immoral and irrational behavior is destroying creation and dividing peoples“.

While the leader of the Catholic Church acknowledged that “Entrepreneurs create jobs and contribute to economic prosperity” – and he assured that it is “fair to say” – then criticized the way these profits are distributed: the fruits of economic prosperity are not distributed well. This is an obvious reality that, if not modified, will generate ever greater dangers.. “If there are no policies, good policies, rational and equitable policies that strengthen social justice so that everyone has land, shelter, work, a fair salary and adequate social rightsthe logic of material and human waste will spread, leaving violence and desolation in its wake.”

“Unfortunately, it is often precisely the richest who oppose the realization of social justice or integral ecology out of pure greed. They disguise this greed with ideology, but it is the old and well-known greed. “So, they pressure governments to support bad policies that favor them economically,” denounced the Supreme Pontiff who then sentenced: “The devil enters through the pocket, don’t forget.”

Francisco: the request to Elon Musk, the warning about online gambling and the development of Artificial Intelligence

At the end of his speech, Francis warned about the risks of online betting and the misuse of networks. Regarding sports gambling, the Argentine said: “It makes me sad to see that the Football matches and sports stars promote betting platforms“.

“That’s not a game, it’s an addiction“, the Pope said. “It is like putting your hand in people’s pockets, especially those of workers and the poor. This destroys entire families.”

In this sense, he asked social leaders to tell him “about mental illness, despair, the suicides that it causes in each house when there is a casino through the cell phone“.

“It’s one of the bad things that technology brings, which on the other hand does so much good. We must find a balancecannot be left to the logic of profit,” added Francis.

In addition, without naming anyone in particular, Francis asked “businessmen in computer technology, social networks, artificial intelligence” to “Put aside the arrogance of believing that you are above the law“.

“Be respectful of the countries where you operate and be responsible for what happens on the platforms you control. They have an obligation to prevent the spread of hatred“, the Supreme Pontiff demanded of them. “They also have the obligation to prevent networks from being used to spread gambling addiction, child pornography or facilitate organized crime.”

Finally, Francis was concise in his message to these businessmen: “A little advice, pay your taxes“.