Governments must work together to reverse hunger, poverty, says pope

Published: 2006-10-19

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Governments must work together to reverse hunger and poverty and invest more in local agriculture, Pope Benedict XVI said on the occasion of World Food Day. "Today more than ever, in the face of recurring crises and the pursuit of narrow self-interest, there has to be cooperation and solidarity between states, each of which should be attentive to the needs of its weakest citizens, who are the first to suffer from poverty," he said in a written message. If nations do not look out for the common good of the whole human family through a spirit of solidarity, then "there is a risk of limiting or even impeding the work of international organizations that set out to fight hunger and malnutrition," the pope wrote. Pope Benedict's written message was sent to the head of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, Jacques Diouf, to mark the Oct. 16 celebration of World Food Day. The Vatican released a copy of the message Oct. 19.

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