G20: Pope Francis urges PM Tony Abbott to deliver on key issues

[Gagaloo911 12,959]

 

 

The Pope has written to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, urging him to ensure the G20 delivers real improvements to the lives of the poor.

The G20 meeting in Brisbane this weekend will see the leaders of the world's 20 largest economies discuss a wide range of economic issues.

The letter from Pope Francis was sent to Mr Abbott, who is a Catholic, last week.

Pope Francis described Australia's presidency of the G20 group as an "excellent opportunity for everyone to appreciate Oceania's significant contributions to the management of world affairs".

In his letter, the pontiff exhorted all G20 leaders to remember their responsibility to create fairer and more transparent economic structures that would effectively "banish the spectre of global recession".

"I would ask the G20 heads of state and government not to forget that many lives are at stake behind these political and technical discussions," he said.

"It would indeed be regrettable if such discussions were to remain purely on the level of declarations of principle."

Pope Francis emphasised the need to protect people from abuses in the financial system, and specifically referred to the transactions that led to the global recession in 2008 as a "less evident but equally real and serious" form of aggression against human rights.

"[The] mentality that maximisation of profits is the final criterion of all economic activity ... in which individuals are ultimately discarded, will never achieve peace or justice," he said.

"Responsibility for the poor and the marginalised must therefore be an essential element of any political decision, whether on the national or the international level."

Pope calls for greater cooperation between G20 nations

While Pope Francis said there was "reason for gratitude" that the political disagreements between G20 members had not impeded dialogue and cooperation amongst leaders, he insisted "more is required".

The Pope expressed his concerns on the rising levels of unemployment, particularly amongst young people, in his letter to Mr Abbott.

"Throughout the world, the G20 countries included, there are far too many women and men suffering from severe malnutrition, a rise in the number of the unemployed, an extremely high percentage of young people without work."

There are constant assaults on the natural environment, the result of unbridled consumerism, and this will have serious consequences for the world economy.

Pope Francis

He said an increase in unemployment and social exclusion can lead to criminal activity, and even the recruitment of terrorists.

Pope Francis called on the G20 members to act with solidarity and take the lead, through the United Nations legal system, to stop terrorism.

"The whole world expects from the G20 an ever broader agreement which can lead ... to a definitive halt to the unjust aggression directed at different religious and ethnic groups, including minorities, in the Middle East," he said.

"It should also lead to eliminating the root causes of terrorism, which has reached proportions hitherto unimaginable; these include poverty, underdevelopment and exclusion."

Pope Francis also wrote about the need for G20 leaders to address the "vital issue" of climate change in his letter.

"There are constant assaults on the natural environment, the result of unbridled consumerism, and this will have serious consequences for the world economy," he said.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-12/pope-writes-to-abbott-to-ensure-g20-benefits-poor/5885342

 

Never ever thought I'd say this in a million years, but way to go Pope! This guy knows his sh*t. 

 

And I'm not even religious and actually despise religion

 

The points on how poverty, massive unemployment, and exclusion from affluent countries leading to things such as terrorism and other criminal activity I found particularly pertinent, along with his valid criticism of capitalism where maximization of profits comes at the expense of lives being discarded and not cared about

[RAMROD 117,149]

Slé Papam Francis

Abbot betta heed!

[Danny Boy 0]

Tony Abbott deserves to go to hell, disgusted he is leading the country I live in.

[Jonna Lee 384]

as usual, the good sis Pope Francis is telling NO LIES

take notes mr abbott

[HANZ 4,380]

I stan for this pope

[EXCXSXE 0]

It's easy for a religious leader to make comments like this... 

[One Five Ten 70]

Uh huh. And yet Tony is trying to get rid of income support payments for the Unemployed under the age of 30, meaning that you have to live on less than half the regular payment on Youth Allowance just because of your age... 

 

I can't wait until the next Australian election, it's going to be a Liberal Party bloodbath

[garnite 8]

It's easy for a religious leader to make comments like this... 

exactly. it makes me spew. he knows about the middle east?! he knows about the financial crisis? he knows that people all over the world are living in less than desirable conditions? well i'm floored.

"plz help the poor and needy... plz make a change"

sad that it's news.

"mammal asks politician to improve living conditions"

as opposed to what, "man tells politicians to make the world less habitable?"

[Elizabeth 751]

Tony Abbott's religion shouldn't have anything to do with the decisions he makes because although Abbott may identify as Catholic, Australia is not a Catholic country, Australia does not have a state religion. Tony Abbott also doesn't care about poor people so the Pope's words are wasted on him. 

[EXCXSXE 0]

exactly. it makes me spew. he knows about the middle east?! he knows about the financial crisis? he knows that people all over the world are living in less than desirable conditions? well i'm floored.

"plz help the poor and needy... plz make a change"

sad that it's news.

"mammal asks politician to improve living conditions"

as opposed to what, "man tells politicians to make the world less habitable?"

 

So true.   This is so transparently for public approval. Like the catholic church doesn't have a business component... 

[Hot Space 14]

lol at the church thinking it has the moral superiority to make statements like this. fix your own church before you come begging world leaders to help the poor. anybody could make these statements, but because it's ~pope francis~ it's news?

[garnite 8]

lol at the church thinking it has the moral superiority to make statements like this. fix your own church before you come begging world leaders to help the poor. anybody could make these statements, but because it's ~pope francis~ it's news?

duh we're supposed to praise him for not condemning the gays to eternal hellfire or having a direct association with the cover up of other abuses. even though that's the butcher's apron that he's inherited.

[Luc 4,776]

Well, I can't disagree with someone saying the livibg conditions should improve, criminalism should be prevented and the environment should no longer be harmed great that he's using his power for these things, I guess.

[HANZ 4,380]

lol at the church thinking it has the moral superiority to make statements like this. fix your own church before you come begging world leaders to help the poor. anybody could make these statements, but because it's ~pope francis~ it's news?

This tho

[ByeBye49 161]

Can't wait for Tony to be gone! :)

 

 

Uh huh. And yet Tony is trying to get rid of income support payments for the Unemployed under the age of 30, meaning that you have to live on less than half the regular payment on Youth Allowance just because of your age... 

 

I can't wait until the next Australian election, it's going to be a Liberal Party bloodbath