Camilla Jessen
Pope Leo XIV criticized corporate compensation packages that give CEOs far higher salaries than their employees.
In his first major interview since becoming pontiff, Pope Leo XIV criticized soaring corporate pay packages, singled out Elon Musk’s unprecedented fortune, and questioned the effectiveness of the United Nations in addressing global crises.
Concerns Over Corporate Pay
Speaking in late July for an upcoming biography, the Chicago-born pope said the growing gap between executives and workers reflected a distorted sense of values.
“CEOs who 60 years ago earned four to six times more than workers earn (now) 600 times more,” he said, according to excerpts published Sunday by Catholic outlet Crux, as cited by Digi24.
Musk’s Trillion-Dollar Fortune
The pontiff specifically mentioned Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose compensation plan could make him the world’s first trillionaire.
“Yesterday the news broke that Elon Musk is going to become the world’s first trillionaire,” he said at the time of the interview. “What does that mean and what is it about? If that’s the only thing that’s valuable anymore, then we have a big problem.”
A Different Style From His Predecessor
Unlike Pope Francis, who often gave frequent and wide-ranging interviews, Leo XIV has so far preferred a more reserved approach, typically delivering prepared texts.
According to Digi24 reporters, this makes the remarks in his first press interview particularly notable.
Criticism of the UN
The pope also turned his attention to international institutions, lamenting that the United Nations had lost its effectiveness.
“The United Nations should be the place where many problems are solved,” he said. “Unfortunately, it seems to be widely recognized that the UN, at least at this moment, has lost its capacity to bring people together on multilateral issues.”
Reflections on His Missionary Past
Leo XIV, who spent decades as a missionary in Peru before rising to the papacy, reflected on how his background shaped his perspective.
His years of service in South America, he noted, gave him deep insights into poverty and inequality.
Adjusting to the Papacy
Admitting that he felt better prepared for spiritual leadership than for global diplomacy, the pope said the adjustment to his new role has been challenging.
“The completely new aspect of this mission is that I have been propelled to the level of world leader,” he said. “I am learning a lot and I feel very challenged, but not overwhelmed.”
Hopes for Peace in Ukraine
The pontiff also expressed hopes for peace in Ukraine, where Russia’s invasion has dragged into its third year.
He urged renewed efforts to end the bloodshed, while acknowledging the difficulty of resolving such a deeply entrenched conflict.
This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, which may have used AI in the preparation
