Pope Francis’ comments about capitalism have left at least one big-bucks donor reluctant to contribute to the $180-million fund-raising effort to renovate St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Home Depot founder Ken Langone told CNBC that a “potential seven-figure donor” is concerned that the pope’s criticism of capitalism is “exclusionary.”
Langone, a devout Catholic, said the donor, whom he wouldn’t identify, was particularly wary about the pope’s saying that a “culture of prosperity” has caused the wealthy to be “incapable of feeling compassion” for the poor.
Langone said he’s raised this issue with Timothy Cardinal Dolan. “I’ve told the cardinal, ‘Your eminence, this is one more hurdle we don’t have to deal with,’ ” he said.
He said Americans are among the most generous donors in the world and need to be approached in the appropriate way. “You get more with honey than with vinegar,” he said he told the cardinal.
But Dolan said he told Langone that the donor had misread the new pontiff, saying “Well, Ken, that would be a misunderstanding of the Holy Father’s message.
“The pope loves poor people,” he said. “He also loves rich people.”
The cardinal told CNBC that once the donor understood Francis, “he’s gonna say, ‘Oh, OK, if that’s the case, count me in for St. Patrick’s Cathedral.” The cathedral, whose construction was completed in 1878, is undergoing an extensive three-year renovation.
A spokesman for Dolan said Tuesday he still does not know the name of the anonymous donor and hadn’t asked who it is.
“He is leaving it up to Mr. Langone to decide,” the spokesman said. “Mr. Langone did not share the name and he respects his decision.”
The donor appeared to have been upset by comments like those Francis made in a speech in July in which he appealed “to those in possession of greater resources.”
“No one can remain insensitive to the inequalities that persist in the world,” the pope said.