Pope Francis says he's no Marxist, but defends critique of Capitalism

Pope Francis has rejected accusations from right-wing Americans that his teaching is Marxist.

The Pope however defended his criticisms of the capitalist system, urging more attention be given to the poor in a wide-ranging interview.

According to the Guardian, in remarks to the Italian daily La Stampa, the Pope said the views he had espoused in his first apostolic exhortation last month were simply those of the church's social doctrine.

Right-wing US radio host Rush Limbaugh attacked Pope views as ‘dramatically, embarrassingly, puzzlingly wrong’ and described the Argentinian pontiff’s economics as ‘pure Marxism’.

The Pope said that the ideology of Marxism is wrong. But he has met many Marxists who are good people, so he does not feel offended.

Defending his criticism of the "trickle-down" theory of economics, he added that there was the promise that once the glass had become full it would overflow and the poor would benefit. But what happens is that when it's full to the brim, the glass magically grows, and thus nothing ever comes out for the poor, the report added.