“Taxation is a sign of legality and justice. It must favor the redistribution of
riches, protecting the dignity of the poor and the least, who always risk ending up crushed by the powerful. The tax, when it is right, is a function of the common good. We work so that the culture of the common good grows, so that the universal destination of goods is taken seriously “. Pope Francis receives in audience a delegation from the Revenue Agency, led by the director general Ernesto Ruffini, and delivers a long speech in which he retraces various passages of the Bible where there are references to the theme of taxes. “In this context – he says – the principles of legality, impartiality and transparency become a precious compass”
“Whoever collects is perceived as an enemy, but it is a fundamental task”
«Today, as in the time of the Bible – says the Pope – whoever collects taxes risks being perceived in society as an enemy to beware of. And unfortunately a certain culture of suspicion can extend to those who are in charge of enforcing the laws. Yet this is a fundamental task, because the law protects everyone. It is a guarantee of equality. The laws make it possible to maintain a principle of fairness where the logic of interests generates inequalities. Legality in the tax field is a way to balance social relations, subtracting forces from corruption, injustice and inequality. But this requires some training and cultural change. As is often said, in fact, the taxman is seen as a “putting their hands in their pockets” to people “
“The rectitude of many taxpayers responds to the plague of tax evasion”
Then on the subject of impartiality. «Your work appears ungrateful in the eyes of a society that focuses on private property as absolute and fails to subordinate it to the style of communion and sharing for the good of all. However, alongside the cases of tax evasion, unlawful payments, widespread illegality, you can tell the honesty of many people who do not shirk their duty, who pay their dues, thus contributing to the common good. The plague of tax evasion is answered by the simple righteousness of many taxpayers, and this is a model of social justice.The impartiality of your work affirms that there are no better citizens than others on the basis of their social belonging, but that everyone is recognized as having good faith to be loyal builders of the company. There is a “craftsmanship of the common good” that should be narrated, because honest consciences are the true wealth of society “.
“The free health system is supported by the tax authorities, a nice thing about Italy”
Furthermore, according to the Pope, “the tax authorities support doctors. Please continue with the free health system and this comes from the taxman, defend it, because we should not fall into a paid health system where the poor have no right to anything. One of the beautiful things that Italy has is this. Please keep it. “The theme of transparency is grafted into this framework:” Those who manage everyone’s assets have a serious responsibility not to get rich “, and in fact” transparency in the management of money, which comes from the sacrifices of many workers , reveals freedom of mind and trains people to be more motivated to pay taxes, especially if tax collection helps to overcome inequalities, to invest in more jobs, to ensure good health and education for all, to create infrastructures that facilitate social life and the economy ”.