VATICAN CITY, October 16, 2023 – Pope Francis marked World Food Day 2023 with a poignant message, urging the world to recognize the stark reality of poverty and despair that continues to afflict millions of people. In his address, the Pope emphasized the need for global solidarity to combat these injustices and inequalities that leave so many in desperate conditions.
The Pontiff implored humanity to no longer remain indifferent to the cries of anguish and despair from those in need. He called for a collective examination of conscience in the face of hunger and malnutrition, which are the results of an unjust accumulation of inequalities and injustices that push many to the margins of society.
Pope Francis went on to stress that these inequalities extend far beyond mere access to food; they affect all basic resources, thus directly violating the human dignity bestowed upon individuals by God. He described this situation as an affront to human dignity and called upon the global community to take immediate action.
This year’s World Food Day is themed “Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind,” and Pope Francis underscored the paramount importance of water as a resource for all life on Earth. He called for responsible and sustainable water management to ensure that everyone can access this vital resource for their essential needs while promoting human development without exclusion.
The Pope emphasized that access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, essential for human survival and a condition for the exercise of other human rights, in accordance with Laudato si’. He decried the fact that in many parts of the world, a lack of clean water leads to diseases and even loss of life.
Climate change-induced droughts are rendering vast regions barren and harming ecosystems and populations. Arbitrary management and contamination of water resources are particularly detrimental to impoverished communities, constituting an injustice that demands immediate attention.
Pope Francis emphasized that water should never be treated as a mere commodity for exchange or speculation. It is, in fact, both life and food, as it is essential for food security, agricultural production, and human survival. The Pope called for effective programs to prevent losses in agricultural irrigation, promote the responsible use of pesticides and fertilizers, and safeguard water resources to prevent conflicts arising from water scarcity.
To ensure a sustainable balance between water consumption and available resources, the Pope called for the use of science, technological innovation, and digital technology while avoiding negative impacts on ecosystems and the environment.
In his conclusion, Pope Francis called upon international organizations, governments, and civil society to work collaboratively to make water a common heritage, distribute it equitably, and manage it sustainably.
He also called for a global community that prioritizes the lives of all over the appropriation of goods by a few, emphasizing that our interconnected world cannot afford to be divided into blocks of countries pursuing selfish interests. Instead, he urged all to think and act as a united global community, centered on solidarity and the well-being of all.
World Food Day serves as a poignant reminder that the culture of waste must be replaced with responsible cooperation, ushering in a world where everyone’s needs are met and collective welfare takes precedence over individual interests. Pope Francis’ message resonates as a call for humanity to work together in the face of these critical global challenges.