So, this Pope has either not read or fundamentally disagrees with Adam Smith’s ‘Wealth of Nations’. Especially it is odd to think that the current economic travails have anything to do with profits. I would have attributed them to monomaniacal devotion to regulation and deification of the earth in place of God. Wouldn’t that be a far worse heresy than wanting to earn a nickel on the dollar?
John Paul II disliked capitalism that resulted in women selling their bodies and when people put making money over making families. I think Benedict is against the concept that you should bankrupt and indebt yourself for material things you can’t afford.
You nailed it perfectly.
“So, this Pope has either not read or fundamentally disagrees with Adam Smith’s ‘Wealth of Nations’.”
Why would you assume such a thing? Have you understood the complete context of the Pope’s remarks and are you aware of his comments on the dangers of socialism/statism?