Pope Francis' most controversial quotes target free enterprise, reveal praise for Fidel Castro

Since the beginning of his pontificate in March 2013, the label of "leftist" has dogged Pope Francis.

The Pope's statements have led The Wall Street Journal to declare him a few years ago "the world leader of the Left."

His phrases about capitalism connects him to left-wing thought and have caused empathy in populist leaders around the world. These are the most controversial anti-capitalist phrases of Pope Francis:

1. Capitalism tends to consider the human being solely based on his productive capacities, forgetting that humans have intrinsic dignity (Speech at the World Meeting of Popular Movements, 2014).
2. This economic system kills (Encyclical Laudato Si', 2015).
3. Capitalism without ethics is a brutal form of the law of the jungle (Speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, 2018).
4. The economy that has the sole purpose of profit is inhumane, it is a way of eliminating the poor (Speech at the World Meeting of Popular Movements, 2016).
5. Capitalism has taught us the logic of benefit at any cost, of giving in order to have more, of exploiting natural resources to the maximum to obtain the greatest possible profit (Encyclical Laudato Si', 2015).
6. The economy cannot be based solely on the free market and private property (Speech at the University of Bologna, 2014).
7. A throwaway culture has taken root in the world, and what is thrown away is human life itself (Encyclical Laudato Si', 2015).
8. The ideology of money dominates and ruins everything (Interview with the newspaper La Repubblica, 2013).
9. The market cannot govern everything (Encyclical Laudato Si', 2015).
10. Economic and social exclusion is a total denial of human brotherhood and a very serious attack against human rights and the environment (Message for the World Day of the Poor, 2018).

Another position of the leader of the Catholic Church that has raised strong criticism is his views on the Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

These are the 5 phrases of Pope Francis that flatter Fidel Castro:

1. I have learned of the death of Fidel Castro and I wish to express my condolences to his excellencies President Raúl Castro and the family of the late leader (Message of condolences sent to the Cuban president after the death of Fidel Castro, 2016).
2. Fidel Castro was a man of great historical meaning (Interview with the newspaper La Repubblica, 2013).
3. I thank President Raúl Castro for the gesture of giving me Fidel Castro's books. I have read his books carefully and I want to tell him that they have done me good (Interview with the newspaper La Nación, 2015).
4. Fidel is a man of the people (Interview with the newspaper La Repubblica, 2013).
5. Fidel Castro has been a leader of great historical impact (Interview with the newspaper La Repubblica, 2013).

Just a few days ago, the Supreme Pontiff described the Nicaraguan regime of Daniel Ortega as a "vulgar dictatorship,"after 5 years of political persecution suffered by Catholics in the Central American country.

The Pope's critics believe that this denunciation comes too late.