“High time to free Africa from the scourge of poverty “, Holy See’s Permanent Observer tells UN

(Sept.23, 2008):- “It is high time to encourage a sustainable developmental process and free all the people of Africa from the scourge of poverty,” Holy See’s Permanent Observer at the United Nations said on Monday. Archbishop Celestino Migliore was addressing the 63^rd session of the UN’s General Assembly on the theme “Africa’s development needs, State‘s implementation of various commitments, challenges and the way forward”. Noting that Africa has always played an important role in the various challenges taken up every year by the UN, Archbishop Migliore commended this timely meeting aimed at taking stock of the implementation of various commitments put forward by the international community, as well as the efforts being undertaken at the national level throughout Africa.
Expressing appreciation for the UN report, Archbishop Migliore echoed the report’s call for concrete action. The development of Africa, he said, is a great opportunity for the whole world, given its human resources and unique climatic and cultural diversity. Observing that Africa is the youngest of continents with 60% of it’s population under 25, he said that in a number of African countries, growth has kept pace with, and even surpassed that of developed nations. However, in spite of this, he said, the recent growth has not been sufficient to free from extreme poverty, large segments of the population of Africa and the average life expectancy remains one of the lowest in the world.
Archbishop Migliore said it is a privilege to have the Catholic Church present throughout the Continent, even in the remotest corners, sharing the burdens, as well as the joys and achievements of many Africans. He noted that in the fight against HIV/AIDS, as well as in the fields of Education and health, the Catholic Church stands in the forefront . Strengthened by this experience, the Holy See encourages the participants at the high level meeting, to continue efforts to adapt the development programs to the reality of Africa, he said and added that the aim of all their economic development plans must be the preservation of African families and their cultural identity.