Pope urges eradication of hunger in the world

(Nov. 13, 2006) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday spoke on behalf of more than 800 million people of the world who suffer hunger, stressing the responsibility of every one to eradicate the global scourge. Thousand of people braved the rain to hear the Holy Father recite and speak at his traditional midday ‘Angelus’ prayer in St. Peter's Square. Even though the "very painful tragedy of hunger," has recently been addressed "in the highest institutional quarters, such as the United Nations, especially at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, the Pope said, the scourge ‘continues to be very grave always." "More than 800 million people live in a situation of malnutrition …too many people, especially children, die of hunger," he said from the window of his study overlooking the vast square. Pope Benedict XVI stressed the need "to eliminate the structural causes linked to the system of government of the world economy, which allocates the greater part of the planet's resources to a minority of the population." He said that this phenomenon has already been labelled an "injustice" by Popes Paul VI and John Paul II.
According Pope Benedict, in order to be able change this situation, it is necessary 'to convert' the model of global development; this is required now not only by the scandal of hunger, but also by the environmental and energy emergencies." The Holy Father also pointed out the responsibility of each person and each family, who "can and must do something to alleviate hunger in the world," especially by adopting "a style of life and consumption that is compatible with the safeguarding of creation and with criteria of justice toward those who cultivate the land in every country." The Pope further urged a concrete commitment "to eradicate the scourge of hunger" and "to promote justice and solidarity in all parts of the globe," saying this is the lesson Jesus taught when he taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus asked the heavenly Father for ‘our’ daily bread, not ‘my’ daily bread. "Thus he wanted every man to feel co-responsible for his brothers, so that no one would be without what is necessary to live," the Pope added