Pope Francis has urged leaders of the Group of 20 (G-20) nations to make the poor and refugees a priority of their summit, which started today (7 July) in Hamburg, Germany.
In a message addressed to German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, Pope Francis said that “in the hearts and minds of leaders and in every phase of taking political measures, it is necessary to give absolute priority to the poor, refugees, those suffering, the displaced, those excluded, without national, racial, religious or cultural distinction.”
Francis made a particular “heartfelt” appeal for the thirty million people across South Sudan, the Lake Chad basin, the Horn of Africa and Yemen who are lacking the food and water needed to survive.
“A commitment to meet these situations with urgency and to provide immediately support to those peoples will be a sign of the seriousness and sincerity of the mid-term commitment to reforming the world economy and a guarantee of its sound development,” he wrote.
The pope also urged leaders to reject armed conflict, urging an end to “useless massacres.” The goal of the G-20, the pope noted, “is to peacefully resolve economic differences.
Francis said that the leaders should “move to deep reflection” on the fact that the summit brings together 20 nations that represent 90 per cent of the production of goods and services in the world, while those who suffer the most are less represented on the world stage.
As representatives of “the portion of humanity that has the greatest potential to contribute to the progress of everyone,” G20 leaders must work toward solutions that can be “truly universal and lasting” and for “the benefit of all,” concluded Francis.
The opening of two-day summit, where climate change and trade are set to dominate, was accompanied by mass protests in the streets of Hamburg.
This morning, US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin met for the first time, shaking hands at the start of the summit.
PICTURE: Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel, and US president Donald Trump at the first meeting of G20 leaders on the first day of the G20 summit in Hamburg
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