(February 19,2011) The Holy See delegate to the United Nations, Archbishop Francis
Chullikatt has called on nations to “invest in children” as part of the solution to
poverty eradication. In a speech recently at the United Nations, Archbishop Chullikatt
stated that “the deepest needs of the human person” go far beyond food, water and
shelter. Authentic social development hinges on respect for the dignity of each human
person. Speaking before the U.N. Commission on Social Development, he drew attention
to declining population growth in the West as a factor in nations struggling to provide
social services. In contrast, “human history teaches us that if there is sufficient
investment in children they will grow up to contribute far in excess of what they
have consumed, thereby raising the standard of living for all.” He criticized measuring
development only in economic terms, insisting that the “eradication of poverty cannot
be based only on measurable economic outcome. Rather, authentic development requires
fostering the development of each human being and of the whole human being”. He
reminded delegates that the Copenhagen Summit of 1995 agreed by consensus that people
are at the center of development.