THE coronavirus pandemic has proved that the “magic theories” of market capitalism have failed, Pope Francis said today, calling for politics to promote dialogue and solidarity and reject war.

The Pope laid out his vision for a post-Covid world by uniting the core elements of his social teachings in a new encyclical.

He wrote: “Aside from the differing ways that various countries responded to the crisis, their inability to work together became quite evident. 

“Anyone who thinks that the only lesson to be learned was the need to improve what we were already doing, or to refine existing systems and regulations, is denying reality.”

The pontiff cited the millions of job losses caused by the virus crisis as evidence of the need for politicians to listen to popular movements, trade unions and marginalised groups.

“The fragility of world systems in the face of the pandemic has demonstrated that not everything can be resolved by market freedom,” he wrote.

“It is imperative to have a proactive economic policy directed at ‘promoting an economy that favours productive diversity and business creativity’ and makes it possible for jobs to be created, and not cut.”