FAO: Pope sends strong message on the battle against hunger

Pope Benedict XVI brought a spiritual and moral dimension to the opening session of the World Summit on Food Security.

While addressing the summit hosted by the U.N Food and Agriculture Organization he took a page from his latest encyclical Caritas in Veritate.

Benedict XVI
"Nor must the fundamental rights of the individual be forgotten, which include of course the right to sufficient, healthy and nutritious food, and likewise water."

According to FAO, 1 out of six people suffer from hunger.

On the first day of the three day conference the Pope along with other world leaders called for wealthy countries to invest in agriculture, open access to international markets for poorer economies and cautioned against forms of aid that stem from greed.

Benedict XVI
"Statistics bear witness to the dramatic growth in the number of people suffering from hunger made worse by the rise in price of foodstuffs, the reduction in economic resources available to the poorest peoples, and their limited access to the markets and to food."

FAO is urging wealthy governments to invest 44 billion dollars a year in agricultural aid.

Banki-Moon
U.N Secretary-General
"We need the support from the international community, without funding we dont be able to do that."

Benedict XVI
"Hunger is the most cruel and concrete sign of poverty, Opulence and waster are no longer acceptable when the tragedy of hunger is assuming even greater proportions."

More than 200 delegates from around the world attended the first day of the summit including Libyan leader and President of the African Union Muammar EL-Gheddafi. Along with President Lula of Brazil who was handed a prestigious award for being at the top of the list of countries for successfully reducing hunger over the past 7 years in his country.

Meanwhile Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was the only G8 leader present.

Five of the popes predecessors have addressed similar summits hosted by FAO this was Benedict XVIs first time.

MC/JM/WP

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[divinization1]

The Catholic does a lot for the world. One example is that Catholic hospitals comprise one quarter of world's healthcare. (CNA). Look it up the church is everywhere helping humankind, even places where no one wants to go

[DeafCatholic]

The comments about "the Vatican" liquidating assets is misinformed. (1) Most of the artwork is protected by UNESCO, not Vatican City, so they could not be sold even if the pope wanted them to be. (2) The pope does not live in "luxury" if one has the opportunity to view his personal living space. (3) The "ad hominem" argument fails to hold water; even if one were to concur the ad hominem, it does not thereby falsify what the pope is saying.

[DeafCatholic]

The comments about "the Vatican" liquidating assets is misinformed. (1) Most of the artwork is protected by UNESCO, not Vatican City. (2) The pope does not live in "luxury" if one has the opportunity to view his personal living space. (3) The "ad hominem" argument fails to hold water; even if one were to concur the ad hominem, it does not thereby falsify what the pope is saying.

[JokerMouce]

He is such a hypocrit. I bet one of his robes is worth enough money to feed an entire village in some places.

He lives in slendid luxary and then has the nerve to give a speach about hunger and food?

Is he taking the piss?

He should liquidate some of the vaticans assets and feed about 10 thousand people.

This guy is so unbelievable!

[MDSingerling]

What a hypocrit; if the Vatican sold even half of it's paintings it could feed the entire world. Oh I forgot he wants YOU to feed the poor; while THEY rape your wealth.

[VictoryCough]

World hunger is the most manageable problem of our time. We create high food prices by inflationary tactics and supporting things like corn ethanol subsidies that raised the price of not only energy but corn!

[lalithtissera]

Action by the church is needed. If Christians from the west really witness to Christ this planet and humanity can live much better.

Western hypocrisy is the worst evil.

That leads to other religions behaving bad and

backward.

Western Christians , want to live a lie.

If pope means what he says and convince his followers, Amen.

[oxxen]

amen.