New York: Addressing the United Nations Security Council during its Open Debate on Poverty, Underdevelopment, and Conflict, Monsignor Marco Formica, a senior official in the Vatican Secretariat of State, called upon the international community to recognize the urgent moral obligation to tackle the foundational causes of poverty. He stressed that global peace and security are deeply compromised by inequality, social exclusion, and widespread denial of basic rights.
Speaking on behalf of the Holy See, Msgr. Formica highlighted the interconnectedness of poverty, conflict, and underdevelopment, asserting that these forces often perpetuate and exacerbate one another. “Eradicating poverty in all its dimensions remains the most pressing global challenge and a non-negotiable condition for sustainable development,” he said, citing the 2030 Agenda.
He emphasized that genuine progress can only be achieved by confronting the injustices that keep millions trapped in poverty namely systemic inequality, marginalization, and the failure to uphold fundamental human rights. This, he said, represents not only a policy imperative but a profound moral responsibility shared by the global community.
A key point of Msgr. Formica’s address was the Vatican’s ongoing concern about the ballooning global military budget. He warned that excessive defense spending siphons critical resources away from essential development areas like health, education, and infrastructure sectors that directly uplift the world’s poor and vulnerable.
“In light of this,” he proposed, “the Holy See renews its appeal for the creation of a global fund, partially supported through the redirection of arms expenditures.” Such a fund, he suggested, could significantly contribute to eradicating poverty and hunger while fostering sustainable development in neglected regions paving the way for a fairer and more peaceful world.
Concluding his intervention, Msgr. Formica underscored that durable peace demands more than diplomatic agreements; it requires an unwavering commitment to the full development of every human person. “We must defend the God-given dignity of all and build the necessary conditions for justice, solidarity, and human flourishing,” he said.
He also urged that the principle of integral human development be placed at the heart of UN peacebuilding efforts, calling for stronger collaboration among nations to serve the cause of lasting peace and shared humanity.