Castel Gandolfo (AsiaNews) – It is urgent, the Pope said in today's Angelus, that we use what we have in ways that are "not selfish but are instead supportive" of others in order to "guarantee the world a future of peace".

Inspired by this Sunday's Gospel about the rich man living in opulence and luxury oblivious to the beggar lying at his door, John Paul II stressed how this image reflects "the imbalance between wealth and poverty in today's world". He emphasised that only "justice and solidarity-based development can "guarantee the world a future of peace".

Reminding his audience that the Catholic Church has always been on the forefront in the battle against hunger, he spoke of some of the initiatives the Holy See has taken to raise the consciousness of the international community.

On September 20, Cardinal Angelo Sodano –who was with the Pope during the Angelus– spoke at the UN Assembly in New York where he lamented the lack of means in the battle against hunger and reminded the representatives of the world's nations of their governments' pledge to invest 0.7 per cent of GNP in projects of this type.

In recent days, the apostolic nuncios of Africa met in the Vatican to bring into focus the Church's mission, one filled with "hardship and sacrifice". Jacques Diouf, director of the Food and Agricultural Organization, took part in the meeting to find common strategies in the battle against hunger and malnutrition in Africa.

Here is what the Pope said ahead of the Angelus:

Today's Gospel offers the parable of the "rich man" and poor Lazarus (cf. Lk 16: 19-31). The rich man lives in opulence and luxury oblivious of the beggar lying at his door. But after they die their fate is reversed, Lazarus is carried away to heaven, whilst the rich man falls into the netherworld of torments.

It is clear what the parable teaches, namely that all of us must use what we have in ways that are not selfish but are instead supportive of others. This well-known page is taken from the Gospels and is relevant today as it speaks to the imbalance between wealth and poverty in the world.

In fact, in the last few days, New York saw the world's heads of state and government gather to find more effective and solidarity-based ways to battle "hunger and poverty". As one of the speakers, Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano expressed the Holy See's support to the new initiative.

The Catholic Church is fully committed to the battle against hunger and the other effects of poverty. For this reason, I am happy to mention the meeting of apostolic nuncios in Africa that took place in the last few days in the Vatican.

Let us pray the Lord that He may support all the efforts of the international community in achieving justice and solidarity-based development. This is how we can guarantee the world a future of peace.

Let us ask for the Blessed Virgin Mary's intercession. To her, we especially entrust the families and peoples who have been the most tested by the unjust distribution of the wealth that God created for all his sons and daughters.