Rome: Pope Francis said on Thursday that financial speculation and corruption were keeping millions of people in hunger and the financial crisis could not be used as an alibi for failing to help the poor.
The speech was the latest in a series of criticisms by the Argentinian pontiff, the first Latin American pope, of what he has called "the dictatorship of the economy" and the spread of consumerist values.
"It is a well-known fact that current levels of production are sufficient, yet millions of people are still suffering and dying of starvation. This is truly scandalous," he said in a speech to participants of a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization conference in Rome.
Francis has made repeated calls to tackle poverty and focus on the needs of the poor since he succeeded Pope Benedict in March. He has made it his mission to rejuvenate an institution reeling from scandals, including widepread sexual abuse by priests, and losing people to other faiths.
"A way has to be found to enable everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth, and not simply to close the gap between the affluent and those who must be satisfied with the crumbs falling from the table," he said.
"There is a need to oppose the shortsighted economic interests and the mentality of power of a relative few who exclude the majority of the world's peoples." he said.
Speaking earlier this month ahead of the G8 summit of world leaders, Francis denounced what he called a culture of waste in an increasingly consumerist world and said throwing away good food was like stealing from poor people.
The speech was the latest in a series of criticisms by the Argentinian pontiff, the first Latin American pope, of what he has called "the dictatorship of the economy" and the spread of consumerist values.
"It is a well-known fact that current levels of production are sufficient, yet millions of people are still suffering and dying of starvation. This is truly scandalous," he said in a speech to participants of a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization conference in Rome.
"A way has to be found to enable everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth, and not simply to close the gap between the affluent and those who must be satisfied with the crumbs falling from the table," he said.
Advertisement
Speaking earlier this month ahead of the G8 summit of world leaders, Francis denounced what he called a culture of waste in an increasingly consumerist world and said throwing away good food was like stealing from poor people.
Advertisement
© Thomson Reuters 2013
COMMENTS
Advertisement
UK Tech Tycoon Missing After Superyacht Sinks Off Sicily In Italy Pompeii Newly Uncovered Skeletons Reveal Agonising Final Moments Nasser Hussain Thinks Ollie Pope's Appointment As Test Captain For Sri Lanka Series Augurs Well For England Supreme Court Bench To Hear Kolkata Rape-Murder Case Today: 10 Points Elon Musk's Response After Trump Says He Would Make Him Adviser "Who Does He Think He Is?" Joe Biden Blasts Donald Trump In Fiery Speech Doctor Says Air Travel Can Cause Sickness: "Seats, Armrests Harbour Viruses" "Who Does He Think He Is?" Joe Biden Blasts Donald Trump In Fiery Speech Tearful Biden Gets Huge Ovation At Democratic Convention Farewell Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.