by CAFOD
Jubilee Debt Campaign in this Holy Year
As we mourn Pope Francis and pray for the new Holy Father, and the Cardinals, who will be gathering to elect a new Pope, we continue to celebrate the Jubilee Year Pilgrims of Hope. We recall that, in his letter for the Jubilee Spes non confundit, Pope Francis invited us all to be
“tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind.”
His model was the biblical Jubilee of the book of Leviticus. Taking place every fifty years, the Jubilee marked a great societal reset – land returned to its original owners, debts were cancelled, relationships restored, and creation renewed (see Leviticus 25).
We celebrate this Jubilee Year in a world where injustice, conflict and abuse of creation are sadly still prevalent. Just as the biblical Jubilee sought to transform economic and community life to reflect the values of God’s Kingdom, so we too are called to advocate for change today.
Central to this is the call for debt justice. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, Pope Francis called for richer countries to cancel the debts of poorer nations who are struggling with immense debt burdens, saying:
“More than a question of generosity, this is a matter of justice.”
CAFOD is part of a worldwide Caritas campaign this year calling for action on the global debt crisis. There is a petition that is being signed in 160 countries, calling on world leaders to take urgent steps in this Jubilee Year. You can sign the petition at cafod.org.uk/debtpetition and also invite others in your parish to sign by ordering paper copies at cafod.org.uk/cancelthedebt
As part of CAFOD’s parish materials there is a letter from Father Charlie Chilufya, a priest based in Kenya, to parishioners in England and Wales. In the letter Father Charlie explains the impact that the debt crisis is having on the Kenyan people, since Kenya is spending five times on repaying foreign debts as it spends on hospitals and schools.
“Families are foregoing medical care and children are losing access to quality education.”
Pope Francis spoke about the debt crisis and the need for action in the Jubilee Year many times in the last year of his life. Join parishes, schools and the whole Catholic community to respond to his call, at cafod.org.uk/cancelthedebt.
Finally, during May we will celebrate Volunteers week, and we give so much thanks to all volunteers in the Church. You all make such a difference, and we couldn’t do what we do with you.
