28 January 2010
Douglas Alexander this week set out Britain’s priorities for helping the world’s poorest people as he met the Pope Benedict and a senior Cardinal.
The International Development Secretary enjoyed an encounter with the Pope at the end of the General Audience, before meeting His Eminence Peter Cardinal Turkson, President Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
Their discussions focused on tackling hunger in the developing world, securing support for an international summit on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the international response to the Haiti earthquake.
Following the meeting, Douglas Alexander said:
“The response to the Haiti earthquake has shown how people of all faiths can come together to offer support to those who are in the most dire need. It is important that we continue to see religion as a force for good in the 21st century. “It is vital that we keep on track with the MDGs if we are going to keep our promises to the world’s poorest people. I was pleased to hear from His Eminence Cardinal Turkson and others that the Vatican continues to see this as a matter of the utmost importance. “My discussions with Cardinal Turkson centred on how the Catholic Church, alongside national governments and NGOs, can tackle the appalling poverty that leads to poor education, healthcare, nutrition and, ultimately, life expectancy in the developing world. “I hope that if the proposed Papal visit to the UK goes ahead later this year it will be a platform for a global action plan to achieve the MDGs and lift poor people out of hopeless poverty.”
“The response to the Haiti earthquake has shown how people of all faiths can come together to offer support to those who are in the most dire need. It is important that we continue to see religion as a force for good in the 21st century.
“It is vital that we keep on track with the MDGs if we are going to keep our promises to the world’s poorest people. I was pleased to hear from His Eminence Cardinal Turkson and others that the Vatican continues to see this as a matter of the utmost importance.
“My discussions with Cardinal Turkson centred on how the Catholic Church, alongside national governments and NGOs, can tackle the appalling poverty that leads to poor education, healthcare, nutrition and, ultimately, life expectancy in the developing world.
“I hope that if the proposed Papal visit to the UK goes ahead later this year it will be a platform for a global action plan to achieve the MDGs and lift poor people out of hopeless poverty.”
His Eminence Peter Cardinal Turkson said:
“I was grateful and very pleased to have the opportunity to meet this afternoon with His Excellency Mr. Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development of Great Britain. “We enjoyed a fruitful exchange on several areas of mutual concern regarding international development, and how the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace endeavours to continue to assist the Holy Father and the universal Church in promoting and supporting the many important efforts in the cause of justice and peace in the world; efforts of governments and non-governmental organizations, including those of churches and religious institutions, in the fight against poverty, and aimed at helping people in developing countries to become protagonists in their own future in sustainable ways.”
“I was grateful and very pleased to have the opportunity to meet this afternoon with His Excellency Mr. Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development of Great Britain.
“We enjoyed a fruitful exchange on several areas of mutual concern regarding international development, and how the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace endeavours to continue to assist the Holy Father and the universal Church in promoting and supporting the many important efforts in the cause of justice and peace in the world; efforts of governments and non-governmental organizations, including those of churches and religious institutions, in the fight against poverty, and aimed at helping people in developing countries to become protagonists in their own future in sustainable ways.”
On Tuesday in Rome, Douglas Alexander also announced £200m continued funding for the ‘productive safety net’ programme in Ethiopia which has protected 8m Ethiopians from ‘food shocks’.
This programme has provided cash or food for work for millions of Ethiopians without a reliable supply of food, who would otherwise have sold vital possessions in order to survive, trapping them further into poverty.
Mr Alexander also announced £5m support for the World Food Programme in Nepal.
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Douglas Alexander meets the Pope. Photo credit: Osservatore Romano
