In a searing indictment of contemporary economic systems, Pope Francis has decried the vast pay disparities between company chiefs and their employees as fundamentally “immoral,” challenging the very morality of modern capitalism.
The Pontiff delivered his stern rebuke during an audience with members of the Italian Christian Union of Business Executives (UCID) in the Vatican on Saturday. He argued that such inequality represents a serious “sin” and a dangerous form of social injustice.
The 'Idolatry of Money' and Social Sin
Francis pinpointed the root of the problem as the “idolatry of money,” a pursuit of profit that blinds executives to their broader responsibilities. He stated that a business leader’s primary duty extends far beyond generating wealth for shareholders.
“If you ask me what the first duty of a business leader is, I would say it is to make every effort to ensure that all employees have dignified work,” the Pope declared. He emphasised that providing stable, fairly compensated jobs is a paramount moral obligation, not just an economic function.
Concrete Actions Over Empty Words
The Pope’s message moved beyond philosophical critique to demand tangible action. He urged the executives to actively narrow the pay gap within their own organisations, framing it not as a suggestion but as a moral imperative.
“I ask you to make an effort so that the gap between the highest and lowest salaries in companies is not so disproportionate,” he said, warning that failure to address this imbalance actively contributes to the erosion of the social fabric.
A Broader Critique of Economic Systems
This latest address continues Pope Francis’s long-standing tradition of speaking out on issues of economic justice. His papacy has been marked by consistent criticism of what he terms an “economy that kills”—a system that prioritises profit over human dignity.
By speaking directly to Italian CEOs, the leader of the Catholic Church placed the responsibility for creating a more equitable future squarely on the shoulders of those in positions of corporate power, challenging them to build an economy that serves people, not the other way around.
