Vatican Seminar on Poverty in Light of Globalization

A recent (July 9, 2004) Vatican seminar brought together 100 representatives from the Church, governments, nongovernmental organizations, and the financial world to focus on “Poverty and Globalization: Funding Development and the Millennium’s Development Objectives.” In his July 9th message to the meeting, Pope John Paul II declared: “The conditions of extreme poverty afflicting many millions of people are a cause of grave concern to the international community. The Church, committed to a ‘preferential option for the poor,’ naturally shares in that concern and strongly supports the goal of halving the number of people living in poverty by the year 2015.”

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, joint chairs of the meeting, also echoed the Church’s Social Teaching: “The goal of development for poor countries is human dignity and freedom,” the said, adding these will remain elusive without world-wide cooperation. The Vatican meeting focused on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, which aim to achieve world-wide improvements in areas such as basic education, poverty and hunger, infant mortality and access to medical care by 2015.

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor noted the importance of these goals because there are now more than 300 million people living in extreme poverty. He said the total wealth of Africa, with around 700 million inhabitants, is less than that of the Netherlands, with a population of less than 20 million. At the present rate of development, he said, halving poverty in Africa will take 100 years.

Poverty: A Threat to Peace

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor also called upon governments to increase the amount of aid they give to developing nations. In addition, he stressed the importance of giving poorer countries greater access to markets in the developed world so they can earn more through exports.

“If our consciences do not jolt us into action, then self-interest alone should do so,” Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor said. “There can be no greater threat to long-term global peace and stability than massive poverty and deprivation.”

Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, observed that the problem of how to finance development had been discussed in the UN Monterrey Conference of March 2002, with developed countries challenged to increase the assistance they give to poorer nations. Most countries have not yet fulfilled their promises, Cardinal Martino noted.

Need For Transformation of Structures and Systems

Cardinal Martino also commented that rich countries sometimes structure development aid in ways that serve the donor country’s agendas and do not take into account the negative impact of economic reforms like trade liberalization and privatization on the poor. The Pope called for new, more effective ways to help poor countries: “What is needed now is a new ‘creativity’ in charity so that ever more effective ways may be found of achieving a more just distribution of the world’s resources.”

The Pope said the Church encourages new initiatives being sponsored in many parts of the world both by various organizations of the United Nations and by individual governments. John Paul II asked for financial support from wealthy nations and a commitment to transparency and accountability in the use made of such assistance by the receiving countries. The Pope called for solidarity in solving the problems of poverty: “I am confident that the governments of rich and poor countries alike will take seriously their responsibilities towards each other and towards their people.”

Debt Relief Still Needed

After Jubilee Year efforts of people of faith around the world, the Work Bank and IMF promised to make debt relief a priority for poor countries. But their new program, the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) thus far has only partially relieved debt of 13 countries. John Paul’s July 9 address reflects on this issue: “Much work has already been done to reduce the burden of debt afflicting poor countries, but more is needed if developing nations are to escape from the crippling effects of under-investment and if developed countries are to fulfill their duty of solidarity with their less fortunate brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. In the short to medium term, a commitment to increase foreign aid seems the only way forward, and the Church therefore welcomes the search for innovative solutions to debt.”

Source: Zenit News Service, Vatican City

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Discussion Questions

What problems related to poverty were discussed by the Vatican meeting described above and reflected on by the Pope in his message to this meeting?

Why do you think these problems are so difficult to solve?

What Scriptural teachings and what principles of Catholic Social Teaching prompted the Vatican and the Pope to speak to these complex issues? Why has solidarity with the world community been a recurring theme with John Paul II?

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Prayer
O Creator,
Our world is large, and yet the global community is so fragile.
We glimpse the needs of our sisters and brothers
And those needs are great.
We want to turn away, but you call us back.
We want simple solutions,
But you want us to help solve the complex problems.
Through your church, you call us to listen, to learn, to reflect and to act.
Give us a deep sense of our place in this web of Creation.
Give us the wisdom of mind And generosity of heart
To seek your will in the world today.
Inspire us to respond to the call of your servant, Pope John Paul II,
As he calls us to solidarity with impoverished countries
So all the children of God can live in dignity and peace.
Amen.