Pope Francis to launch prayer campaign to end global hunger

Criterion staff report

Pope Francis has called for people around the world to pray together at noon their local time on Dec. 10 for an end to hunger.

Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin is asking Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to join the Holy Father’s call to respond to the needs of the poor and vulnerable by praying and working to end hunger.

The global wave of prayer will begin at noon on the Island of Samoa and will progress around the world in each time zone until it reaches the island again some 24 hours and more than 164 countries later.

The prayer vigil marks the beginning of a yearlong, anti-hunger campaign called “One Human Family, Food For All,” which is being organized by Caritas, the international Catholic relief organization, and Catholic Relief Services. More information and resources can be found at www.crs.org.

The objective is to unite the voices of the Catholic community around the globe to end the scandal of world hunger. Pope Francis’ call to prayer has also resonated with other religious leaders, and people from many faith traditions are expected to participate.

Please consider praying the following prayer at noon on Dec. 10.

O God, you entrusted to us the fruits of all Creation so that we might care for the Earth and be nourished with its bounty.

You sent us your Son to share our very flesh and blood and to teach us your Law of Love.

Through His death and resurrection, we have been formed into one human family.

Jesus showed great concern for those who had no food—even transforming five loaves and two fish into a banquet that served five thousand and many more.

We come before you, O God, conscious of our faults and failures, but full of hope, to share food with all members in this global family.

Through your wisdom, inspire leaders of government and of business, as well as all the world’s citizens, to find just and charitable solutions to end hunger by assuring that all people enjoy the right to food.

Thus we pray, O God, that when we present ourselves for Divine Judgment, we can proclaim ourselves as “One Human Family” with “Food for All.”

We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN. †