Pope Francis on Wednesday called for a world without poverty and a society without discrimination based on "solidarity, sharing, the division of resources founded on fraternity and justice" as the ideal objective of the Jubilee Year.
"If the Jubilee doesn't reach pockets, it is not a real Jubilee", the pontiff told over 12,000 people at a general audience in Saint Peter's Square.
"And this is in the bible, it is not invented by this pope, no, it's in the bible", stressed the pope, noting that the bible gives multiple indications on concrete ways to achieve social justice and fraternity.
Generosity was the main theme of the general audience held on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.
"Today we can think about this and each one can reconsider this in their hearts, everyone should think, if they have too many things, why shouldn't they leave 10% or 50% to those who have nothing", said the pontiff, calling on the "Holy Spirit to inspire each one of you".
Francis went on to note "how beautiful would it be if freedom, land and money became assets for everybody and not just for some, as occurs now, when, if I'm not mistaken, I'm not sure about the numbers but more or less 80% of wealth is in the hands of less than 20% of the people".
The pope then stated that this Jubilee "is to convert".
"The central idea" of the Jubilee announced in the Leviticus is that the world originally belongs to God and is entrusted to humankind, thus nobody can contribute to create inequality, noted the pope.
This is why the people of Israel every 50 years redistributed land, freedom and money, recalled the pope - "the message is very clear, opening up to share with sincerity, this is mercy and if we want mercy from God, we must start to have mercy among us citizens, families, populations, continents".
The pope continued calling also for generosity with foreigners, with those who are travelling as "Jesus passed through Egypt". Money must be shared, urged the pope.
Loans should be provided to those in need without interest.
Usury is a "sin that cries in the face of God", sowing desperation and inducing some to commit suicide "because they can't make it and they don't have a helping hand but only a hand that is asking them to pay interest".
Those who are generous will have the Lord's blessing, Pope Francis who met with an international delegation of the World Wildlife Fund at the end of the hearing, including president Yolanda Kakabadse and the president of the organization's Italian chapter, Donatella Bianchi.
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