Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis has said that the world can no longer turn away from the millions of people who are suffering from hunger.

In a video message to launch Caritas Internationalis’ One Human Family, Food for All global campaign, Pope Francis (above) said: “We are in front of a global scandal of around one billion people who still suffer from hunger today. We cannot look the other way. The food available in the world is enough to feed everyone.”

One Human Family, Food for All unites the efforts of the Caritas confederation’s 164 Catholic organisations, including the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), to work towards ending hunger by 2025.

“I invite you to make space in your heart for this emergency of respecting the God-given rights of everyone to have access to adequate food. We share what we have in Christian charity with those who face numerous obstacles to satisfy such a basic need,” the Holy Father said.

Pope Francis also urges people to look at their own lives to see what changes they can make.

“This campaign is also an invitation to all of us to become more conscious in our food choices, which often lead to waste and a poor use of the resources available to us,” he said. “It is also a reminder to stop thinking that our daily actions do not have an impact on the lives of those who suffer from hunger first-hand.”

Caritas’ campaign launched today with a ‘wave of prayer,’ , as December 6 SCO reported. Starting on the Pacific Island of Samoa, Caritas organisations at midday in their country took part in a prayer service to pray and reflect on the issue of hunger.

SCIAF workers took part in the wave at 12 noon today in a ceremony at their offices in Glasgow. Philippa Bonella, SCIAF’s head of communications and education, said they were ‘looking forward to taking part in the new Caritas Internationalis campaign against poverty and hunger.’

“As the campaign’s title reminds us, we are all part of one human family, and have a responsibility to work for the common good of all, especially our poorest sisters and brothers around the world,” she said. “We’re delighted to be joining a global campaign co-ordinated by the Caritas network which will bring a particular faith focus to the campaign and emphasise the roles we can play in building a more just world. The news that Pope Francis has given his backing to the plans will undoubtedly inspire many people to support the campaign through prayer and action.”

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