"TRAGIC SITUATIONS"

Poverty is often a contributory factor or a compounding element in conflicts, including armed ones. In turn, these conflicts fuel further tragic situations of poverty.

"MOST VULNERABLE VICTIMS"

When poverty strikes a family , the children prove to be the most vulnerable victims: almost half of those living in absolute poverty today are children.

CHILDREN, WOMEN AND MOTHERS

When the family is weakened, it is inevitably children who suffer. If the dignity of women and mothers is not protected, it is the children who are affected most.

GLOBAL SOLIDARITY

One of the most important ways of building peace is through a form of globalization directed towards the interests of the whole human family... There needs to be a strong sense of global solidarity between rich and poor...

"AUTHENTIC HUMAN DEVELOPMENT"

What the fight against poverty really needs are men and women who live in a profoundly fraternal way and are able to accompany individuals, families and communities on journeys of authentic human development.

"CREATIVE SOLIDARITY"

The Christian community will never fail ... to assure the entire human family of her support through gestures of creative solidarity, not only by "giving from one's surplus" but above all by "a change of life-styles, of models of production and consumption, and of the established structures of power which today govern societies"{Pope John Paul II}.

EXPAND YOUR HEARTS

I extend to every disciple of Christ and to every person of good will a invitation to expand their hearts to meet the needs of the poor and to take whatever practical steps are possible to help them.

CAN'T BE REFUTED

The truth of the axiom cannot be refuted: "to fight poverty is to build peace.".

(Source: Message for 2009 World Day of Peace, issued December 8, 2008)