Pope Leo has expressed concern about the increasing disparity between the wealthy and the working class, highlighting a notable example in Elon Musk, who is on track to potentially become the world’s first trillionaire. During his first media interview, Leo criticized the current executive compensation structures, noting how they contribute to societal polarization. He stated that CEOs today earn significantly more than workers compared to past decades—citing that the ratio has grown from four to six times greater 60 years ago to around 600 times more currently.
Leo questioned the implications of Musk’s potential trillionaire status, remarking, “If that is the only thing that has value any more, then we’re in big trouble.” Musk’s pay package, proposed by Tesla’s board, could be unprecedented in corporate history, requiring the company’s value to increase from approximately $1 trillion to $8.5 trillion over the next decade.
Pope Leo, elected in May as the first U.S. pope following the death of Pope Francis, has reflected on his initial months in the role, acknowledging the substantial learning curve he faces. Although he shares similar progressive views with his predecessor, he has maintained a more subdued public approach.
In a notable interaction, Brian Burch, Trump’s new ambassador to the Vatican, presented Leo with a chocolate birthday cake as part of efforts to foster amicable relations, highlighting the differing styles between Leo and Francis, particularly in addressing political issues, such as immigration policy.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/15/pope-leo-concerned-elon-musk-pay