Pope Benedict XVI stated that he considers the right to food and water a part of every person's right to life.  He asks us to pray that people in all nations will work together to ensure that every person has a right to sufficient nutrition and clean water.  He pointed out that millions of people throughout the world are starving or suffering from malnutrition, even though there is plenty of food to feed everyone.  Pope Benedict has repeatedly emphasized the moral necessity of coming to the aid of the world's hungry, as did his predecessors.    

Pope Benedict concluded his remarks to the World Summit on Food Security with these words:

"Hunger is the most cruel and concrete sign of poverty. Opulence and waste are no longer acceptable when the tragedy of hunger is assuming ever greater proportions. The Catholic Church will always be concerned for efforts to defeat hunger; the Church is committed to support, by word and deed, the action taken in solidarity - planned, responsible and regulated - to which all members of the international community are called to contribute. The Church does not wish to interfere in political decisions: she respects the knowledge gained through scientific study, and decisions arrived at through reason responsibly enlightened by authentically human values, and she supports the effort to eliminate hunger. This is the most immediate and concrete sign of solidarity inspired by charity, and it brooks neither delay nor compromise. Such solidarity relies on technology, laws and institutions to meet the aspirations of individuals, communities and entire peoples, yet it must not exclude the religious dimension, with all the spiritual energy that it brings, and its promotion of the human person. Acknowledgment of the transcendental worth of every man and every woman is still the first step towards the conversion of heart that underpins the commitment to eradicate deprivation, hunger and poverty in all their forms.

"God bless your efforts to ensure that all people are given their daily bread."

To understand the fuller context of the Holy Father's concern with hunger, see his encyclical, Caritas in Veritate.

To give your financial support to these disaster-stricken areas, visit Catholic Relief Services.