In a statement to the United Nations, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations emphasized July 8 that “poverty, especially extreme poverty is the most significant global challenge,” and that development is the answer to that poverty.
The Vatican’s UN Observer Mission in New York submitted its statement to address the ongoing UN’s High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in its debate on “accelerating” the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals for African Countries and Lesser Developed Countries. The Vatican asserted, “it is critical that the international community takes action to address the challenges hindering progress in development.” It continued, “In this regard, poverty, especially extreme poverty, is the most significant global challenge. Its persistence in its many dimensions continues to deprive millions—especially women and children—of access to adequate food, clean water, healthcare, education and decent work. Poverty constitutes a grave affront to the inherent God-given dignity of the human person.”
This reflects Pope Leo’s thinking and mission, and it highlights technology transfer. It observes, “The words of Pope Leo XIV to ‘not let our guard down when it comes to poverty,’ are a call to prioritize the eradication of poverty, which is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.” The statement acknowledges the need for support “for African countries, LDCs [lesser developed countries],” etc., but it underscores, “Such support must extend beyond short-term measures and address the structural obstacles that hinder sustainable development. This includes enhancing access to concessional financing, promoting fairer trade systems, facilitating the transfer of technology, and advancing meaningful debt relief.”
This process, and the migrant question, is what Pope Leo underlined in his historic June 6-12 visit to Spain.
