Absence of love, charity spawns selfishness, says Pope

Vatican City – Selfishness fills the “void” created by a lack of love and charity, Pope Francis said Wednesday during his general audience in St Peter’s Square.

“Where there is no love, there is a void that gets filled up with selfishness,” Francis told some 46,000 pilgrims.

“But we cannot live together in peace if everyone is out for himself. That’s why love and charity are essential,” he said.

People were often too greedy, showing indifference, bad temper, selfishness and a lack of solidarity towards others, Francis said.

“This doesn’t allow the Catholic Church to grow. The unity of the Church means sharing suffering and joy with our brothers,” the pontiff said.