CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNA/EWTN News) — Pope Benedict XVI’s Sunday Angelus address highlighted the plight of those affected by drought and famine in the Horn of Africa.
“One thinks of the many brothers and sisters these days, in the Horn of Africa, who suffer the dramatic consequences of famine, exacerbated by war and the lack of strong institutions,” the Pope told pilgrims gathered in the courtyard of his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, 15 miles south of Rome.
The Horn of Africa refers to the group of countries situated on the Somali peninsula in the northeastern part of the continent. These include Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia itself. All three states, plus Kenya, which borders to the south, have been declared a drought zone by the United Nations. It’s estimated to be the worst of its kind in 60 years.
“The word of God recalls how the water and bread are necessary for every human being,” said Pope Benedict, drawing upon the Sunday Gospel passage which retold the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes by Jesus.
“Jesus reminds us our own responsibility: to do what we can to help those who suffer from hunger and thirst. The task is immense. In this vacation time, do not forget others, and do not be afraid to open our hands and hearts to help all those in need.”
The U.N. has also declared a famine in parts of Somalia. There, at least six out of every 10,000 children are dying every day due to starvation, according to the U.N. 25 percent of the Somali population is also now displaced. The situation is being made worse in those parts of the country controlled by Islamist groups who are refusing to accept Western aid.
The Pope said the Gospel “reminds us that it is forbidden to be indifferent to the tragedy of hunger and thirst! It encourages us to give them food to eat, and share our bread with the needy. Following Christ, we must be sensitive to the poverty of nations.”
Pope Benedict said that Jesus Christ wants to take care of both our physical and spiritual needs.
“Christ is attentive to material needs but wants to give more because man is always ‘hungry for something more, has need of something more,’” he said quoting from his 2007 book Jesus of Nazareth.
This need is fulfilled in the Eucharist, which is foreshadowed in the Gospel reading, said the Pope. He added that the Eucharist helps us to love God more and to love others too.
“In the Eucharist, Jesus also makes us witnesses of God’s compassion for each brother and sister. The Eucharistic mystery, thus, gives rise to the service of charity towards the other.”
He then concluded by imparting his apostolic blessing.
The Pope will return to his Rome residence in September.
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It must be pointed out that the mandated inclusion of ethanol by a Malthusian dominated EPA in all US gasoline has now reached a truly perverse and in the light of the Holy Fathers words a grossly sinful level. How many know that 42 out of every 100 bushels of corn grown in America are diverted from food stocks and ends up in the gasoline tank. Ethanol is literally taking the food out of the mouths of the truly poor and fomenting revolutions and unrest around the world. The recent upheaval in Egypt actually began as a protest against the gross rise in food prices. How many people know that 120,000 of the poor took to the streets of Mexico City because of the American driven price of corn doubling the cost of the humble tortilla? Ethanol was one of the real not imaginary inventions of Al Gore and the vampire like mechanism that gives it foul life is the 57 cent per gallon subsidy deviously funded by “forgiving” the road taxes paid by real fuels such as diesel and gasoline and pushed by the Malthusian Mr. Gore et alia. Can anyone say less money to build bridges and repair pavements? As farmers scramble to grow more corn, crops such as wheat and soybeans have been and continue to be replaced, reducing their supply for everyone and driving up their cost as well. This evil distortion of the free market hurts all; the price of eggs, poultry, beef as well as bread and corn meal all raise. It hurts the middle class but the poor suffer the most. There is more than enough food for all especially the poor. All we have to do is go up to the high places and tear down the false idol of “Gaia” aka “Mother” Earth and put up Crosses instead. Every time you gas up remember that if you say nothing or do nothing YOU are “pumping” a poor Mexican family’s tortillas into your tank sending them to bed hungry. Let your Representatives know that you oppose this hidden “mortal sin” of subsidized ethanol. Do not be one of those “rich” Americans who see but ignores these modern day Lazarus folk like the Haitian Catholics who are forced to feed their children “dirt” cookies to fill their empty bellies. By opposing this stupidity you will quite literally be able to help feed the hungry all over the world and you will not one day hear Father Abraham say to you over the great chasm “Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”
First and foremost, we are obligated to feed the hungry in our local communities, then throughout our own nations. If the countries of Africa didn’t spend millions per year on advanced weaponry so that they can slaughter each other based on ancient tribal rivalries, perhaps they would have less hunger.
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