Pope calls for united front against ‘slavery of money’

THE Holy See’s press office released on Wednesday the full contents of a letter from the Pope to the president of the Brazilian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Geraldo Lyrio Rocha, on the occasion of the Campaign for Ecumenical Brotherhood.

Pope Benedict praised the initiative and asked participants to “unite their forces to reconcile people with God, helping them and freeing them from the slavery of money.”

Under the theme “Economy and Life” the 2010 Campaign for Ecumenical Brotherhood meets this year for the third time. In addition to the Catholic Church, five other Christian denominations are represented, each belonging to the National Council of Christian Churches in Brazil.

In his message to the Brazilian archbishop, which was read to inaugurate the Campaign, the Holy Father expressed the Lenten call to “be reconciled with God.”

Read full report