Conflict affected people in Yemen receive emergency food rations (ANSA)
By Linda Bordoni
Oct 18 2022
In a message to the World Food Forum taking place in Rome, Pope Francis reminds participants that in a world impacted by interconnected crises, the centrality of the human person must never be forgotten.
At the heart of Pope Francis’ message to participants in the 2nd edition of the World Food Forum (WFF) was the call “not simply to feed the other, but to give ourselves in service to others” in a spirit of “fraternity and solidarity that must inspire relations between individuals and between peoples.”
The Forum at the UN Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) takes place from 17 to 21 October 2022 with a focus on “Youth Action”, “Science & Innovation”, and “Investment”.
2022: A year of unprecedented hunger
The Forum comes in a year of unprecedented hunger. UN statistics show that conflict, COVID, the climate crisis, and rising costs have combined to create jeopardy for up to 828 million hungry people across the world.
In this world of interconnected crises, the Pope said in his message to participants of the WFF’s opening ceremony, the message of Christ challenges us to make decisions and promote initiatives for the good and the future of all humanity.
The sacredness of bread
Extending his greeting to all those who commit themselves and strive every day to eradicate hunger and poverty in the world, Pope Francis said “food is fundamental to human life, in fact, it shares in its sacredness and cannot be treated like any other commodity.”
He recalled the respect our grandparents had for bread: “they kissed it when they brought it to the table and did not allow anything to go to waste.
