Angel Dario Carrero: Your most recent reflection also warns of the temptation to make the poor themselves into an idol.

Gustavo Gutiérrez: That comes from the romanticism of some. Some people say to me: “I have learned everything from the poor. The poor are so good.” Sometimes I say to them jokingly: “You believe that all poor people are good and generous? Then I would not advise you to go into my neighbourhood at two in the morning because you'll come out [naked] as the day you were born, only older.” It is a way to make it clear that the option [for the poor] is not made because the poor are good, but because God is good. If the poor are not good, then it's the same. Many people became disappointed with commitment [to the poor] because they believed the poor were good. If they had committed themselves because God is good, they would still be committed.