Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has issued a stern warning against usury, calling it a “grave sin” that corrodes human hearts, enslaves the vulnerable, and destabilizes societies. Speaking to members of Italy’s National Anti-Usury Council, the Pope urged renewed moral vigilance, justice, and mercy, praising the Church’s decades-long efforts to protect victims as a beacon of hope during the Jubilee Year.
In his address, Pope Leo XIV underscored that usury is not merely an economic or accounting problem it is a profound moral and spiritual failing. Drawing on Scripture, he invoked the prophet Isaiah to remind believers of God’s call to “break the chains of injustice and set the oppressed free.”
“How far from God,” he said, “is the attitude of those who crush people until they become slaves! Usury destroys families, consumes the mind and heart, and can drive people to despair even suicide.” He noted that usury often disguises itself as help but inevitably becomes “a burden that suffocates,” hitting hardest those already vulnerable, including individuals facing medical crises, financial emergencies, or addictions.
Pope Leo XIV extended his condemnation to systemic usury, warning that entire communities can fall victim to exploitative financial structures. Citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he reminded the audience that mercantile practices that cause hunger and suffering are “structures of sin” carrying grave responsibility.
He challenged the moral conscience of his listeners, asking: “Are the less fortunate not human beings? Do the weak not share our same dignity? Are those born with fewer opportunities worth less as human beings?” The Pope stressed that society’s response to these questions determines its moral compass and the destiny of future generations.
Highlighting the work of the National Anti-Usury Council, Pope Leo XIV described their efforts as “a sign of hope” that reflects the spirit of the Jubilee of Mercy. Drawing from the Gospel story of Zacchaeus, he emphasized that conversion is possible when individuals encounter Christ’s gratuitous love. “When profit becomes our goal,” he warned, “others lose their face and become objects to exploit. In the end, we too lose ourselves and our souls.”
The Pope affirmed that the conversion of those who commit usury is as essential as supporting those who suffer from it. He concluded by urging courage, unity, and perseverance among those combating usury, assuring them of the Church’s pastoral support and inspiration drawn from the Gospel.
Pope Leo XIV’s message presents usury not only as an economic injustice but as a profound moral challenge, one that requires both systemic reform and personal conversion, underscoring the Church’s unwavering commitment to justice, mercy, and human dignity.