On the eve of the G20 Summit in Brisbane Pope Francis has written a letter to Prime Minister Abbott offering his prayerful encouragement for the deliberations and outcome of the Summit.
Read Pope Francis’ Letter to Prime Minister Abbott
In his letter Pope Francis recognizes the importance of the deliberations and a focus on efforts to relaunch a sustained and sustainable growth of the world economy. He reminds participants that at the centre of their deliberations must be the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people and that a more realistic and complete view of the human and the earth must be at the centre of economic theory and practices.
At the centre of economic principles and policy must be people’s wellbeing through a more inclusive economy that welcomes the participation of the poor, which honours the dignity of all people, improves the quality of life for women and children, promotes access to decent and quality jobs for all and promotes access to education.
It is hoped that through this G20 Summit the voices of the world’s most vulnerable are heard – child workers, trafficked women, Indigenous peoples, refugees, those living with hunger and poverty, those without work, Pacific Islanders whose homes are being inundated by rising seas and many more. Such an inclusive economy must also hear the cry of the earth for justice.
The leaders gathering at this G20 Summit not only have an economic imperative but have a deeply moral imperative and that moral imperative is not only to respond to the voices of the world’s poor but to invite and welcome them in to the centre of the deliberations and actions.
In the lead up to this G 20 Summit the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission has joined with Queensland Churches Together in prayer vigils to pray for those whose voices need to be heard if there is to be economic justice in the world . In addition, Christians will be asked to consider fasting from food or something else important to them and praying for the needs of marginalised people and the earth from the morning of Saturday 15 November to the afternoon of Sunday 16 November. A prayer service to mark the conclusion of this period of fasting will take place on Sunday 16 November at 4 p.m. at St Francis College Chapel, 233 Milton Road, Milton (enter via Baroona Road).
During this Summit let us continue to pray with Pope Francis that the leaders of the world gathering together will have the courage and conviction to place the human being back into the heart of economics and politics.
Rick Sheehan
Chair
Catholic Justice and Peace Commission
Released November 13, 2014