VATICAN - Pope's Message: “an effective campaign against hunger, in order to confront climate change or to allocate agricultural production primarily to food, calls for much more than mere scientific studies. It is necessary, above all, to rediscover the significance of human beings in their individual and community dimensions, from the basis of family life, from which come the sense of solidarity and sharing.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – In the message sent to the Director General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Jacques Diouf, for the occasion of World Food Day, whose theme this year is: “World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy,” the Holy Father pointed out that the day coincides “with a particularly difficult moment in the world food situation, in which their appears to be an insufficient supply of food in comparison to the consumption rate and the climatic conditions are placing in jeopardy the lives of millions of men, women, and children who are forced to abandon their homelands in search of something to eat.”
Faced with this situation and while the high-level conference promoted by the FAO this past June did make a call on the international community in taking responsibility for the food insecurity, the Holy Father reaffirmed that “above all we must undertake to eliminate the reasons that prevent authentic respect for human dignity. With the means and resources the world has at its disposal, it is possible to supply sufficient nourishment and to satisfy the growing needs of everyone. The initial results of the efforts made to increase global production levels have proven this fact.”
In analyzing the various motives that have led up to this situation, the Pope mentioned: the path of consumerism, the lack of decision in concluding negotiations and stopping the selfishness of governments or groups of nations and end the “uncontrolled speculation” that affects the rates of prices and consumption...the absence of a correct administration of the alimentary resources caused by the corruption of public life or increased investments in arms and sophisticated military technology, that sacrifices the fundamental needs of the people. The common origin of these motives can be found in a “false sense of values, upon which international relations are placed, especially the widespread attitude in modern culture that only favors a path towards material goods, ignoring the true nature of the human person and his most profound aspirations.”
“An effective campaign against hunger, in order to confront climate change or to allocate agricultural production primarily to food, calls for much more than mere scientific studies. It is necessary, above all, to rediscover the significance of human beings in their individual and community dimensions, from the basis of family life, from which come the sense of solidarity and sharing. This reflects the need to build relations between peoples based on real and constant openness, to ensure that each country is able to satisfy the requirements of those in need, and to transmit the idea of relations founded on the interchange of reciprocal knowledge, values, rapid assistance and respect. It implies a commitment to promoting effective social justice in relations among peoples, which demands that each person be aware of the fact that created goods are meant for all people and that the international community, in their economy, should be oriented towards the distribution of the goods of the earth, to their sustainable use and to the fair division of their benefits...One essential condition to increase levels of production and guarantee the identity of indigenous communities, as well as peace and security in the world, is to guarantee access to land, favoring agricultural workers and promoting their rights.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 17/10/2008)