If the Pope is into “wealth distribution,” he should practice what he preaches.
Auction off the Vatican art treasures in London and New York and give the money to the poor around the world.
Same with the Catholic bishops in America. They want amnesty? EBT cards and/or welfare for Mexican illegals in the U.S.? Then help cover the economic cost by paying real estate taxes on church properties in the U.S.
I am always amused by this proposal. Who would BUY the Vatican's "treasures"? Some billionaire, of course. Would this billionaire make the treasures available for viewing by the public, as the Vatican does?
And the moment Mr. Billionaire bought the stuff, wouldn't the cries start immediately: "Mr. Gotrocks should sell the treasures he bought from the Vatican, and give the money to the poor!"
And suppose Mr. Warbucks buys the Vatican treasures from Mr. Gotrocks? Well, then. "Mr. Warbucks should sell the treasures he bought from Mr. Gotrocks and give the money to the poor!"
Ad infinitum.
The only solution to the problem created by the existence of treasures like the "Pieta" and the Sistine Chapel is to smash them.
The only problem I have with that is, those properties-the bishops' and other church properties-we're largely paid for by parishioners. Just as property taxes would be on those houses--those too, would also be paid for by parishioners, and that's a tax that hits at our ability to worship and freely exercise our First Amendment rights.
As a Catholic, I like this Pope, and consider him to be a holy man, but he knows nothing about economics. It is through the bounties of capitalism that missions are funded throughout the world. The capitalist' economic system has done more to improve the lives of impoverished people than any other system in the world. Replacing it with something more "equitable" will only bring us an equal share of misery.
I sympathize with your basic view, but you've proposed the wrong solution. The basic problem is that leftist bishops have outsourced one of the Church's primary charisms, charity, to the government. Jesus didn't tell people to petition the Roman government for more bread and circuses, he told people to be charitable. St. Paul said that charity covers a multitude of sins. We've got to get back on track.