“So it is that Christ the Judge speaks of “one of the least of the brethren”, and at the same time he is speaking of each and of all.

Yes. He is speaking of the whole universal dimension of injustice and evil. He is speaking of what today we are accustomed to call the North-South contrast. Hence not only East-West, but also North-South: the increasingly wealthier North, and the increasingly poorer South.

Yes, the South – becoming always poorer; and the North – becoming always richer. Richer too in the resources of weapons with which the superpowers and blocs can mutually threaten each other. And they threaten each other – such an argument also exists – in order not to destroy each other.

(…)

Nevertheless, in the light of Christ’s words, this poor South will judge the rich North. And the poor people and poor nations – poor in different ways, not only lacking food, but also deprived of freedom and other human rights – will judge those people who take these goods away from them, amassing to themselves the imperialistic monopoly of economic and political supremacy at the expense of others.”

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Pope St. John Paul II

Homily during the Apostolic Journey to Canada

Sept 17th, 1984

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