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On global food crisis 

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"...The global food crisis left 100 million more people hungry and made it more expensive for Caritas to provide food aid.

Providing food to the hungry is a core part of our work and we witnessed that hunger deepen in Haiti, Ethiopia, Darfur and Zimbabwe..."


On financial crisis

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"...The financial crisis in world markets will undoubtedly have a ripple effect on the poor and on our Caritas members as they seek to raise funds to support an increasing number of people in poverty.

A world built on the globalization of greed and fear rather than the globalization of solidarity was never sustainable or desirable. Our fears are that the poorest people who have benefited least from decades of unequal economic growth will pay the greater price for this folly..."

On aid levels

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"...Halfway into the Millennium project to lift millions out of poverty by 2015, the funding from rich countries remains below what they promised and what it necessary.

A continued reversal in aid flows would have a disastrous effect on the progressive steps made in developing countries to increase access to healthcare, schools, and clean water.

As Caritas members, we see the positive effect everyday that aid can have helping the poor transform their own lives.

Debt relief has allowed Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and many other countries to abolished fees for primary schools resulting in dramatic increases in enrolment during the space of a few years..."


On climate change 

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"...Now is not the time to cut aid but to increase it and make it work for the poor, especially as we confront climate poverty. Rich countries need to pay for the cost of extreme weather caused by the climate change they caused.

That cost is being largely born by poor communities at the moment and we saw the devastation created by extreme weather conditions.

We saw tragic scene in Myanmar, India, the Caribbean, and my own country Honduras as storms and flooding killed thousands. Caritas relief efforts provided emergency food, shelter, medicine and compassion as we appealed for $40 million to help the most vulnerable.

2009 will be a vital year with a key G8 meeting in Italy that must have development at the top of its agenda and a climate summit in Copenhagen..."


On peace-building 

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"...Peace-building will also be a key priority for us in the new year. Ethnic and political violence in Kenya, Congo, Georgia, and Sri Lanka raged in 2008. Progress in Afghanistan and the Holy Land stalled. As advocates of peace at the grassroots, national and international level, Caritas will redouble its efforts.

40 years ago, Pope Paul IV said prophetically "the new name of peace is development." Forty years later we’re still waiting for authentic development..."


Christmas message

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"...There was hope in 2008.

There was hope in young people I met in Australia for World Youth Day who believe in a “Blueprint for a better world.” For them the possibilities are as limitless as their imaginations.

As I said at the UN in September, what we have is a poverty of the imagination. We need to imagine not a “First World” or a “Third World”, but “One World” in which the duties to the poor are shared.

Wishing you peace and love at Christmas..."