"I find suffering here"

A brother in Christ offers an interesting assessment.

CAGLIARI, Sardinia (Reuters) - Pope Francis made one of his strongest attacks on the global economic system on Sunday, saying it could no longer be based on a "god called money" and urged the unemployed to fight for work.

Greed is hurting people in these poor communities.

"I find suffering here ... It weakens you and robs you of hope," he said. "Excuse me if I use strong words, but where there is no work there is no dignity."

The golden calf has returned as many worship wealth and value greed.

"It is not a problem of Italy and Europe ... It is the consequence of a world choice, of an economic system that brings about this tragedy, an economic system that has at its centre an idol which is called money," he said to the cheers of the crowd.

He goes on to say that our economic system throws the vulnerable to the proverbial wolves.

Francis said globalization had brought with it a culture where the weakest in society suffered the most and often, those on the fringes "fall away", including the elderly, who he said were victims of a "hidden euthanasia" caused by neglect of those no longer considered productive.

If you doubt that appraisal, I will show you poor communities where there are high prices, violent gangs, crime, substance abuse, almost no jobs, and little hope of escaping poverty. To further salt the wounds, government programs to help feed the poor and care for the sick have even become political targets. Our society and economic system have failed these people.

I agree with Pope Francis' diagnosis, but it leaves two big questions. Who is going to step up to help? What are they going to do?