Vatican City, 11 November 2014 (VIS) –
The Holy Father has sent a message to Tony Abbott, prime minister of
Australia, who will chair the Summit of Heads of State and Government
of the 20 Countries (G-20) scheduled to take place on 15 and 16
November in Brisbane. The agenda of the meeting will focus on efforts
to relaunch sustained and sustainable growth of the world economy and
the fundamental imperative, which emerged from the preparatory work,
of creating dignified and stable employment for all. Extensive
extracts from the text are published below:
“I would ask the G20 Heads of State
and Government not to forget that many lives are at stake behind
these political and technical discussions, and it would indeed be
regrettable if such discussions were to remain purely on the level of
declarations of principle. Throughout the world, the G20 countries
included, there are far too many women and men suffering from severe
malnutrition, a rise in the number of the unemployed, an extremely
high percentage of young people without work and an increase in
social exclusion which can lead to criminal activity and even the
recruitment of terrorists. In addition, there are constant assaults
on the natural environment, the result of unbridled consumerism, and
this will have serious consequences for the world economy.
It is my hope that a substantial and
productive consensus can be achieved regarding the agenda items. I
likewise hope that the assessment of the results of this consensus
will not be restricted to global indices but will take into account
as well real improvements in the living conditions of poorer families
and the reduction of all forms of unacceptable inequality. I express
these hopes in light of the post-2015 Development Agenda to be
approved by the current session of the United Nations Assembly, which
ought to include the vital issues of decent work for all and climate
change.
The G20 Summits, which began with the
financial crisis of 2008, have taken place against the terrible
backdrop of military conflicts, and this has resulted in
disagreements between the Group’s members. It is a reason for
gratitude that those disagreements have not prevented genuine
dialogue within the G20, with regard both to the specific agenda
items and to global security and peace. But more is required. These
conflicts leave deep scars and result in unbearable humanitarian
situations around the world. I take this opportunity to ask the G20
Member States to be examples of generosity and solidarity in meeting
the many needs of the victims of these conflicts, and especially of
refugees.
The situation in the Middle East has
revived debate about the responsibility of the international
community to protect individuals and peoples from extreme attacks on
human rights and a total disregard for humanitarian law. The
international community, and in particular the G20 Member States,
should also give thought to the need to protect citizens of all
countries from forms of aggression that are less evident but equally
real and serious. I am referring specifically to abuses in the
financial system such as those transactions that led to the 2008
crisis, and more generally, to speculation lacking political or
juridical constraints and the mentality that maximisation of profits
is the final criterion of all economic activity. A mindset in which
individuals are ultimately discarded will never achieve peace or
justice. Responsibility for the poor and the marginalised must
therefore be an essential element of any political decision, whether
on the national or the international level”.