Pope appeals to end 'scandal of hunger'

Vatican City, 11 December 2013. Pope Francis during his General Audience on Wednesday in St. Peter’s square once again reiterated his appeal to end the ‘scandal of hunger’. The Pope said: ‘yesterday Caritas has launched a worldwide campaign against hunger and wasting food, with the motto: "One human family, food for all". ‘The scandal of the millions of people who suffer from hunger should not paralyze us’, said the Pontiff, ‘but move us to act, everyone, individuals, families, communities, institutions, governments, to eliminate this injustice.’ The Gospel of Jesus shows us the way: to trust in the providence of the Father and share our daily bread without wasting it. I encourage Caritas to carry on this commitment, and I invite everyone to join this "wave" of solidarity, added the Pope.

In a video message released on Monday evening, Pope Francis put his full support behind the global campaign, launched by Caritas Internationalis, to end world hunger by 2025. The Pope said the work of Caritas, present in 200 countries, "is at the heart of the mission of the Church." Its attention, he said, is towards all those "who suffer because of the scandal of hunger, those with whom the Lord identified when he said, ‘I was hungry and you gave me something to eat’."

We are in front of a global scandal of around one billion people who still suffer from hunger today, said the Pontiff, adding, we cannot look the other way and pretend this does not exist. The food available in the world is enough to feed everyone. The parable of the multiplication of the loaves and fish teaches us exactly this: that if there is the will, what we have never ends. On the contrary, it abounds and does not get wasted.

Pope Francis in his video message, invited everyone ‘to make space in your heart for this emergency of respecting the God-given rights of everyone to have access to adequate food. We share what we have in Christian charity with those who face numerous obstacles to satisfy such a basic need. At the same time we promote an authentic cooperation with the poor so that through the fruits of their and our work they can live a dignified life.

The Pope exhorted all, as one single human family, to give a voice to all of those who suffer silently from hunger, so that this voice becomes a roar which can shake the world.
Source: VR Sedoc