With regard to the Sermon on the Mount, the Pope is within the mainstream of Christianity in failing to grasp its message and, instead of actually listening to Jesus, make up what they want to hear and listen to themselves. The beatitudes have nothing to do with poverty. The two that seem to have something to do with poverty actually aren’t about poverty.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, Jesus says, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. First, poor in spirit, not poor. The two things - poor in spirit and poor - have nothing to do with each other.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. This isn’t about poverty (not having enough to eat or drink).
None of the other beatitudes are about poverty either. Check it out. The beatitudes are not about poverty. What’s important is being poor in spirit and hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Each of poverty and wealth has its own temptation (Proverbs 30:9). Neither is a sign of the elect. (Matthew 19:26)
Luke’s Gospel just says “Blessed are the poor.”
Another “Blessed are the lowly.”
There is more than just Matthew’s Gospel.