Pope Francis Says Greed, Unbridled Capitalism 'Dung of the Devil'

Pope Francis spoke last week about the topic of greed and money, suggesting that unchecked capitalism can lead to the destruction of society.

Francis made his comments during a recent visit to Bolivia last week, in which the pontiff asked the Bolivians to forgive the Catholic Church's treatment of Native Americans during the "conquest of America."

Francis went on to suggest that unbridled capitalism and economic greed has caused harm on the ecosystem, saying: "Today, the scientific community realises what the poor have long told us: harm, perhaps irreversible harm, is being done to the ecosystem."

"And behind all this pain, death and destruction there is the stench of what Basil of Caesarea called 'the dung of the devil,'" Francis added.

The pope also touched on the persecution against Christians in parts around the world, especially the Middle East.

"Today we are dismayed to see how in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world many of our brothers and sisters are persecuted, tortured and killed for their faith in Jesus," Pope Francis said.

"In this third world war, waged piecemeal, which we are now experiencing, a form of genocide is taking place, and it must end."

The pope's comments led the New York Times to suggest that perhaps the pontiff is calling for a social revolution in Latin America and other impoverished areas in the world.

"This is not theology as usual; this is him shouting from the mountaintop," Stephen F. Schneck, the director of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic studies at Catholic University of America, told the New York Times regarding the pope's impassioned speech.