Vatican City: In a message directed to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, host of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Pope Francis issued a passionate call for collective and urgent action to eradicate global hunger and poverty. His appeal, read by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, highlighted the moral imperative for nations to prioritize the welfare of humanity over the allocation of vast resources toward weaponry and conflict.

The Pope decried the worsening hunger crisis, aggravated by armed conflicts and systemic inequalities, as a grave injustice. He lamented the contradiction of widespread food waste while over three billion people suffer from food insecurity, describing this disparity as a "genuine scandal" and affirming that access to food is an inalienable human right.

Pope Francis also called for an end to wars and injustices that exacerbate poverty and starvation. He urged the international community to pursue sustainable peace and redirect military expenditures toward addressing the root causes of hunger and underdevelopment. He proposed strengthening initiatives like the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, emphasizing the need for long-term strategies and equitable resource distribution that respect human dignity.

Condemning societal complacency in the face of starvation, the Pope described such indifference as a “scandalous injustice” and stressed that the greed driving hunger amounts to "homicide." He called for collaborative action involving governments, international organizations, and communities to break the cycle of economic and social inequality.

Addressing food waste, the Pope highlighted the need for a global commitment to ensure fair access to food, urging measures that reflect a long-term vision for combating malnutrition. He also emphasized that development projects should align with the needs of local communities, avoiding externally imposed solutions or "ideological colonization."

Pope Francis assured the Holy See's continued support for initiatives promoting human dignity and alleviating hunger. He concluded his message with a blessing, urging the G20 leaders to commit their efforts toward the genuine progress of the global family and ensure no individual is deprived of their daily sustenance.