The Church has consistently criticized economic systems that generate inequality and marginalize the poor. Although it recognizes the value of the market and private initiative, the Church maintains that the market economy must be subordinate to ethical criteria and the common good.
Neoliberalism and Globalization: Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical "Centesimus Annus" (1991), warned that uncontrolled capitalism leads to exploitation and the excessive accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few. Pope Francis has been even more forceful in his criticism of neoliberalism, which he describes as an "economy that kills" because it places profit above human dignity.
Economic Alternatives: The Church has proposed economic alternatives based on solidarity and integral human development. Through the Economy of Communion and other initiatives, the Church promotes business models that reinvest their profits in the community, share resources with the poor, and prioritize workers' well-being.
