His Eminence Cardinal Peter Turkson
Chancellor of the Pontificial Academy of Social Sciences
In the name of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, I send greetings to Your Eminence and to all those gathered to discuss the topic of the debt and development crises in developing countries. In light of the serious ongoing challenges which disproportionately impact those in the developing world, I am grateful for your efforts to propose a framework for responding to them. While I would repeat the Jubilee Year appeal of the late Pope Francis for creditor nations to consider reducing substantially, if not cancelling outright, the international debt that threatens the future of many countries (cf. Message for the LVIII World Day for Peace, 11), I encourage your work to propose other measures to address this issue. Such recommendations could be presented in a spirit of fraternal solidarity, highlighting and stengthening the ties that bind creditors and debtors alike to a shared destiny. In this regard, I hope that the efforts of the Commission of Experts will contribute positively to the ongoing global discussions on debt relief and provide tangible and innovative options that offer mutual benefit, thus inviting a broader coalition of support from the international community.
With these sentiments, I cordially invoke an abundance of divine blessings on all present.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State