On Thursday, Pope Francis called for the conclusion of new international agreements with the aim of reducing the debt burden of developing countries and shifting spending from armaments and military equipment to eliminating hunger in the world. TASR informs about it according to a report from the Reuters news agency.
In a message related to the Jubilee Year 2025, which the Pope will officially open on Christmas Eve, he said that climate change, wars, unequal treatment of migrants and other problems “pose a threat to the existence of humanity as such”. “Sporadic expressions of philanthropy are not enough. For lasting change to take place, cultural and structural changes are needed,” the Pope said.
Catholic jubilees or holy years usually occur once every 25 years and are considered a time of peace and forgiveness. The upcoming jubilee year 2025 will last until the Feast of the Three Kings on January 6, 2026. The Pope’s call on Thursday is part of his annual message for the World Day of Peace, which the Roman Catholic Church commemorates on January 1. The message is traditionally sent to world leaders and heads of institutions such as the United Nations. The Pope also called on all countries to abolish the death penalty, which he rejects.
During his 11-year pontificate, Francis has repeatedly called on prosperous countries to forgive the debts of developing countries. In a new message, he said that many poorer countries also face “ecological debt” as a result of the expected effects of climate change. The call for direct cancellation of debts made by the late Pope John Paul II. during the holy year 2000, prompted a campaign that resulted in the cancellation of $130 billion of debt between 2000 and 2015. Global debt reached a record high of $313 trillion in 2023, with developing economies recording a new record debt-to-GDP ratio.
