In a message addressed to the president of Brazil, host of the G-20 summit for international economic cooperation, Pope Francis has called on the world to make urgent and united efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty.
Vatican News
Vatican City, Tuesday, November 19, 2024 (REI): Pope Francis has drawn attention to the problem of hunger in the world, which today has worsened due to armed conflicts in our world, and the deprivation of food or of adequate nutrition. Money is being spent on weapons instead of helping to feed our world’s three billion people.
Pope Francis’ message was presented by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State. Which was addressed to Brazilian President Lula da Silva. Brazil will host the two-day G-20 leaders’ summit, which began on November 18 in Rio de Janeiro, which will also be attended by the leaders of the 19 member states plus the African Union and the European Union. .
Contribute to a better world
Congratulating President Lula da Silva for facilitating the Summit as the current President of the G-20, the Pope expressed his good wishes and hope to all participants that its discussions and results will truly contribute to building a legacy for future generations. a better world and a prosperous future.
Eliminate the stigma of world hunger
The Pope underlined the urgent and paramount need to eliminate hunger from our world, as millions of people still suffer and go hungry while tons of food is wasted, citing his encyclical Fratelli Tatti, how “this is a true stigma”, stressing that “Hunger is a crime; food is an inalienable right.”
War is stupid, build a lasting peace
Recognizing the problems caused by wars, conflicts and injustice, the Pope stressed the importance of “finding new ways to establish stable and lasting peace in all areas affected by conflicts, with the aim of restoring the dignity of those affected”. He said the deaths and destruction caused by these wars are also contributing to rising hunger and poverty, which are affecting places far from conflict, due to the disruption of supply chains and the resulting influx of weapons and ammunition. being spent.
facing the tragedy of hunger
In the message, the Pope writes that the greatest concern today is that the world has not yet found ways to confront the tragedy of hunger, and that the “silence of society to accept it” is “a reprehensible, unjust and serious crime.” This is especially true when people starve their brothers and sisters out of usury or greed, which is “murder.” Therefore, they emphasize that “no stone should be left unturned to lift people out of poverty and hunger.”
Poverty contributes to the hunger crisis
The Pope further says that social and economic injustices exacerbate the reality of hunger and that poverty can “perpetuate a cycle of economic and social inequalities that permeates our global society.”
“It is therefore clear that immediate and decisive measures must be taken to eradicate the scourge of hunger and poverty. These measures must be taken in a joint and cooperative manner, with the participation of the entire international community.” The Pope says that effective measures require a “concrete commitment on the part of governments, international organizations and all of society,” and these include access to basic goods, a fair distribution of vital resources that “respects given human dignity For God’s sake to each person, Respect.
stop wasting food
Collective action is needed to ensure that food is not wasted. The Pope said that even today there is enough food to feed everyone, but for various reasons it is distributed unequally. The Pope writes that efforts to address these challenges will require “the long-term vision and strategy… that are essential to combat malnutrition effectively.”
To this end, they expressed their support that the Global Coalition against Hunger and Poverty can play an important role in eradicating hunger and poverty, while implementing a long-standing proposal of the Holy See, which calls for “reorienting funds currently allocated for weapons and other military expenditures toward a global fund designed to alleviate hunger and promote development in the poorest countries.”
decolonization of ideology
The Pope also stressed the need for projects that are not imposed from outside, but “planned and executed in response to the needs of people and their communities.”
Finally, the Pope assured that the Holy See will continue its efforts to promote human dignity and will contribute through the exchange of experiences and the commitment of Catholic institutions around the world, “so that in our world no human being, God as a person dear to us.” “Do not deprive yourselves of your daily bread.”
