Christian leaders worldwide urge IMF and World Bank to cancel debts

More than 140 senior Church leaders representing millions of Christians around the world have signed a letter urging the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to cancel debts for developing countries fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Oct 17, 2020

ROME: More than 140 senior Church leaders representing millions of Christians around the world have signed a letter urging the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to cancel debts for developing countries fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

The letter - signed by cardinals, archbishops and heads of religious congregations from different Christian denominations - was sent ahead of the World Bank and IMF annual meetings on 16-18 October.

The institutions are expected to discuss debt relief for poor nations at the meeting as part of planning for the global economic recovery.

In the letter, the Church leaders encourage the institutions to show "courageous leadership" and argue that debt cancellation "is the most immediate way to release the finance required to prevent millions of our sisters and brothers being needlessly pushed into poverty by the pandemic."

Signatories to the letter include:

Sister Alessandra Smerilli (Coordinator of the Economy Taskforce of the Vatican Commission for Covid-19);
Prof Isabel Apawo Phiri (Deputy General Secretary, World Council of Churches);
Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon (Secretary General of the Anglican Communion);
Rev Fidon Mwombeki (General Secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches);
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Archbishop of Kinshasa);
Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario (Archbishop Emeritus of Dhaka); and
Cardinal Berhaneyesus D Souraphiel (Archbishop of Addis Ababa).––ICN

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