The Catholic Church, in theory, now espouses a preferential option for the poor, which she does based on the Authority of Christ. That she has failed miserably in the past (and present) in this mission doesn't mean she can't pick herself up and try again. Pope Francis and his allies are trying again.
A more just distribution of social and material goods has Christ's imprimatur, as you must know. It's hard to understand why you'd glibly mock the teaching of Pope Francis on issues relevant to this mission as evidence of his "self-interest" or his mere power-seeking. PF is encouraging Christians to cooperate with God more effectively so as to redeem human power on Earth by aligning it in consilience with its rightful origin in the Kingdom of God, seems to me. That power has been usurped for millennia. 

Your cynicism can get tiresome.