CNS STORY: Developed countries must offer help to eliminate poverty, says pope

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CNS Story:

POVERTY-POPE Apr-23-2007 (440 words) xxxi

Developed countries must offer help to eliminate poverty, says pope

By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Developed countries have a moral obligation to offer concrete help in eliminating poverty in the world, especially in Africa, Pope Benedict XVI said.

While the governments of poorer countries have a responsibility to fight corruption and poverty on their home turf, "the active involvement of international partners is indispensable," he said in a letter addressed to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Helping poorer nations out of the grinding cycle of poverty and debt "is a grave and unconditional moral responsibility" that cannot be considered an option or be "postponed in the face of pressing national concerns," he wrote.

The Vatican released the pope's letter and the German leader's reply April 23, just a few weeks before the start of the summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations being held June 6-8 in Germany. The pope's letter was dated Dec. 16, 2006.

The German-born pope said Germany had "a unique possibility" to lead the way in the fight against poverty as it would be heading two powerful international bodies at the same time when it took on the presidencies of the Group of Eight nations and the European Union in 2007.

The pope wrote that the church is not the only voice calling for the eradication of extreme poverty; people from many different religions and cultures see poverty reduction as "one of the most important tasks in today's world," he said, and many see poverty reduction as being linked to achieving world peace and security.

Some of the ways richer countries could help promote "lasting development" elsewhere, the pope wrote, included:

-- Making trade conditions more favorable to poorer nations, including giving them "broad and unconditional access to free markets."

-- Ensuring the "rapid, total and unconditional cancellation" of debt for heavily indebted poor countries and least-developed countries.

-- Increasing investment in creating affordable medicines to treat and prevent malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other diseases. Also, life-saving drugs and health care must be provided "without imposing legal or economic restrictions."

-- Reducing both the legal and illegal arms trade.

-- Eliminating money-laundering and other forms of corruption.

In a Feb. 2 letter, Merkel thanked the pope for his encouragement and assured him that she hoped the G-8 and Africa would "move toward a reform partnership."

She said as head of the G-8 she expected HIV/AIDS and debt reduction to be high on its list of priorities.

"Only if all strong players in the world shoulder their responsibility will we be able to build more justice and peace," she wrote.

END

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