At the G-20 summit in Brazil, Vatican Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin challenged rich countries to forgive the debts of developing countries and take responsibility for their past decisions.
Vatican News
Brazil, Tuesday, November 19, 2024 (REI): At the G-20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Vatican Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin spoke on the topic “Reform of global governance institutions” . Addressing the summit president on Monday, he highlighted the shift of power from nation-states to international multilateral organizations over the last century.
around the 21st
After World War II, Cardinal Parolin noted the increase in the number of countries gaining independence that changed the structure of the global political landscape.
As a result, international multilateral organizations “seem to be facing challenges in responding to the demands of the 21st century.”
As a solution, the Cardinal called for change, saying that “the structures that facilitate effective international cooperation must be reconsidered.”
He highlighted the importance of ensuring peace and stability, while learning how to respond to new challenges and “how to build global systems that address environmental, public health, cultural and social issues, as well as artificial intelligence.”
All these developments must take into account respect for fundamental human rights, social rights and care for the environment.
A sermon and a plan
Referring to Pope Francis’ Laudate Deum Deum apostolic exhortation, Cardinal Parolin warned against “concentrating global authority in a single person or in an overly powerful elite.”
He said any future reform of world governments must take into account the principles of equal assistance and participation, so that, as the Pope wrote, effective global rules “can allow ‘provision’ of this global security.”
To this end, the Vatican Secretary of State proposed that rich nations recognize the impact of their past decisions and forgive the debts of countries that will never be able to pay them.
“This is more a question of justice than leniency,” he said.
