Pope says wasted food can feed world’s hungry

December 20, 2013 - Pope Francis sent a message to world’s “cartoneros” and “recicladores” (literally, “cardboard people” and “recyclers”), praising the poor people who people who pick through garbage to find recyclable and reusable goods around the globe. He filmed the message on December 5, when meeting with leaders of the Argentina-based “Movimiento de Trabajadores Excluidos” (Excluded Workers Movement), and was released earlier this week at the annual meeting of trash recyclers, “Federación de Cartoneros y Recicladores”. In his message, the Pope urged the workers to raise awareness of food waste. "We are living in a throwaway culture, where we easily toss away not only things, but people,” Pope Francis said. Known for his simple habits, the Argentine pontiff has denounced today's “culture of waste”, and noted in his video message that food that is thrown away each day could feed all the world's hungry. Pope Francis has a long relationship with Argentina's ``cartoneros'' for whom would celebrate Mass as archbishop, and he invited them on stage during World Youth Day in July, in Rio de Janeiro.