Virtuous Poverty, Christian Liberty: A Free-Market Appreciation of Pope Francis

Pope Francis has touched on economic issues in many public statements and documents since his elevation to the papacy. These statements have received heavy criticism by supporters of the free market, worsened by misleading representations in mainstream media. In response, this article is divided into three sections: (1) an outline of key ideas in Francis’s message concerning the economy, (2) an analysis of certain critical responses that are relevant but ultimately insufficient, and (3) an examination of the deeper unity between free-market economics and Francis’s message.