Evening star., 1946-04-05
Text of Pope's Broadcast
Pontff Calls on Latin American Countries
To Come to Aid of Worlds Hungry

Worlds Hungry
still exist and then of building up
new ones, of hindering the waste of
foodstuffs or their use for any other
immediate purpose than that of
nourishing man, of avoiding incon-
siderate or unjustiflable cessation of
work, of setting apart adequate
transport facilities or taking the
necessary financial measures, of
seeking and using every possibility
of sowing.
These are matters all of which re-
Iquire oreanizational ability and the
spirit of sacrifice. Nonetheless, if
organization, however expert and
strong we're to be reduced to no more
than an administrative policy, if the
spirit of sacrifice, urged even to
heroism, were not to be fired by an
ideal higher than that of mere mill
Itary or national discipline; it
would be little indeed.
The human race is threatened by
famine, and famine, of itself, is the
cause of incalculable unrest in the
midst of which the future peace, as
yet only in germ, would run the risk
of being suffocated before being born
and yet how necessary is peace for
every people of this earth! In the
face Of this common peril there is
no room for thoughts of vendetta or
Ireprisal, for lust of power or domina-
ton, nor for any desire of isolation
Ior of a victor's privileges. That is
very we'll understood in North
America.
In this great world offensive
against famine, the United States
has generously taken the lead. 1t
has placed at the service of this holy
cause its gigantic power of produc-
ton. 1t has doubled efforts to in
crease the surplus Of foodstuffs, des-
tined for expectation. Canada, too,
as we know, is taking the same way
i'm it's traditional liberality. For its
part Great Britain, with timely fore
Thought, has convoked in its capital
an international conference to dis
Icuss food problems and in the mean
time has left in force wartime re-
strictions on the use of many eat
ables.
Looks to Latin America.
1t is certain that small. scarcely
noticeable rationing in the better
supplied countries would result in
such saving of food as would afford
other peoples. harder hit by famine,
marked relief in their more urgent
needs. For that reason we look
trustfully to the states of Latin
America. In the past the noble
hearts of their citizens, our dearest
sons and daughters, have been
opened wide to every appeal of char
Iity, TO all great interests of human
| ity.
Divine providence has assigned
them in our days magnificent task ::
To be dispensers of its gifts. 1t is a
task such as the patriarch Joseph
had in the years of want when he
was put in charge of the granaries
of Egypt. In very truth the gran
aries of the world, the Argentine and
Brazil, on the eve of the calamities,
saw their immense lands answer to
their labor and their agricultural
methods with a fertility surprising
that of prewar years.
They are, therefore, in the happy
position of being able to re-estab-
lish in large measure the shaken
equilibrium by lending aid to their
more needy brothers. May the con-
viction penetrate everywhere that
the present threat of famine is a
common danger which should draw
together all the peoples in brotherly
solidarity and union such as leaves
behind it all differences, all conflicts,
all particular interests.
What does it matter, at this mo-
ment. to know where to lay the re-
sponsibilities or what share in them
falls to each one for the wrongs and
fatal negligences? What does it
matter to ascertain who is more or
! less worthy of help?
Time to Hearken to Saviour.
What is really urgent now is that
prompt and sufficient succor reach
wherever need is making itself felt
Today more than ever it is time
to hearken to the words of the
Saviour: "As long as you did it to
one of these my least brethren, you
did it to me''-Matthew xxv.4O.
1t is time to attend also the bitter
reproach he makes to whoever for
selfishness or indifference does not
come to the aid of the neighbor in
an obvious state of need
In effect these warnings show the
grave responsibility before God of
all those who because of their spe-
cial gifts or because of their position
are summoned to ward off that dan
ger in a directive or in an executive
capacity by reason of their Office or
by their private effort.
They show the grave responsible
ity before God of all who by their
foresight and diligence and wise
economic arrangements in the pro-
duction, transport and distribution