Pope addresses Rome Food Summit

(June3, 2008) “Hunger and malnutrition are unacceptable and the Catholic Church desires to unite with the efforts of the world’s nations to overcome this scourge,” said the message of Pope Benedict XVI to the participants of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Conference - FAO, that opened in Rome on Tuesday. The Pope’s message was read on the opening day of the Conference by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarciscio Bertone.
Delegates from some 151 countries, including some 40 heads of state and governments are attending the June 3-5 Summit. The Papal message expressed appreciation and gratitude to FAO, for having attracted the attention of the international community to face the challenge of hunger, and above all for having called for an action, that in order to be effective must be unified and coordinated. The message said the great challenge today is to globalise not only economic and commercial interests but also the global expectations of solidarity with poorer countries. The Pope’s message invited delegations to cooperate increasingly with organisations working to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. “I know that this is an arduous and complex task”, said the papal message, adding that “we cannot remain insensitive to the calls of those, who in different continents are malnourished and hungry”.
The Pope said that poverty and malnutrition are not a mere fatality caused by adverse environmental situations, or catastrophic natural disasters, and the considerations of a purely technical or economic nature, should not prevail on the duties of justice to those, who suffer from hunger. The Pope’s message stressed that every person has the right to life, therefore, it is necessary to promote the effective implementation of material goods, and help people who suffer from lack of food, gradually become able to meet their needs for adequate nutrition and good health. The Pope hoped that the delegations present at the meeting will take new commitments and aim to achieve then with great determination. The Catholic Church. for its part, wants to join this effort, said the Pope. Asssuring all the delegations that they can count on the contribution of the Holy See, the Pope encouraged all the people to share the goods of the Earth with the whole human family.