Pope Leo I Addresses the Disparity Between the Rich and Poor

Pope Leo has raised alarms regarding the deepening divide between the affluent and the impoverished, particularly spotlighting Elon Musk's potential to become the world’s first trillionaire. In his initial media interview, the pope addressed the issue of executive remuneration, lamenting the stark contrast in earnings between CEOs and regular workers, noting that the disparity has now grown to a ratio of 600 times, compared to four to six times in the past.

He remarked on a recent report about Tesla proposing an extraordinary trillion-dollar compensation package for Musk, underscoring the increasing focus on wealth accumulation. This incentive scheme is aimed at raising Tesla's market value significantly over the next decade, which the pope implied reflects a troubling societal lack of value beyond financial wealth.

As he settles into his role, Pope Leo, who was recently elected as the first US pope after the passing of Pope Francis, acknowledged the steep learning curve ahead of him. Despite sharing progressive views similar to his predecessor, he has taken a more understated approach. While Pope Francis had frequent disagreements with former President Donald Trump on immigration policy, Leo—previously Cardinal Robert Prevost—also critiqued Trump before his papacy. In a gesture of goodwill, Trump’s Vatican ambassador offered Leo a birthday cake, indicating an intent to foster amicable relations between the two.