Habemus papam!

A new page is therefore opening for the universal Church with 1.5 billion Catholics. May he be welcomed with joy and gratitude! Welcome Holy Father!

Ma grande surprise, c’est l'engouement que le pape a suscité dès sa nomination dans la presse. Ce n’est pas un européen ni un latinoaméricain qui succède au pape François, mais un Américain. Un vrai ! Il est né à Chicago (Illinois) le 14 septembre 1955, de Louis-Marius Prévost, d'origine française et italienne, et de Mildred Martínez, d'origine espagnole. Il a passé de nombreuses années comme missionnaire au Pérou avant d'être élu à la tête des Augustiniens. Saint Augustin (354- 430) est né à Thagaste (aux confins de l’Algérie et de la Tunisie). En 383, après des études à Carthage, il part pour l'Italie. Sa méditation incite aussi les fidèles à la persévérance dans la charité en prônant la mise en commun des biens et leur redistribution selon les besoins de chacun.Pourquoi le choix Léon XIV ? Pour renouer avec le pape Léon XIII (1878-1903), pape de la doctrine sociale de l’église qui avait dénoncé l’exploitation des ouvriers à la fin du 19ème siècle et d’une relative ouverture au monde en fin diplomate. C’est donc très modestement que je souhaite adresser une prière au pape. Nos sociétés néolibérales ne prennent pas suffisamment en compte le facteur humain, c'est à dire le vivant. J'en sais quelque chose ! Le productivisme broie les agriculteurs. D'ailleurs, le pape a commencé son pontificat au cours de la messe d’inauguration, en critiquant les excès du capitalisme, devant des dizaines de milliers de personnes et un parterre de dirigeants étrangers. Selon lui, c'est une économie « qui exploite les ressources de la Terre et marginalise les plus pauvres ». Très Saint Père, en même temps que vous voulez la paix dans le monde, vous devez les interpeller sur la faim dans le monde avec plus de considération pour les paysans, en arrêtant toutes les spéculations sur les productions.

I want to keep, during your first appearance on the balcony, this face illuminated by a beautiful smile, your eyes that showed so much emotion that we could share. All my thoughts for our pope Léon XIV, may his ministry open under the auspices of peace and charity. He spoke his first words before the faithful gathered in place Saint-Pierre in Rome: 'May peace be with you'.

When I heard these words and as a practicing Catholic, I replied 'and with your Spirit!'.

A REAL AMERICAN My great surprise is the enthusiasm that the pope has generated in the press since his appointment. It is not a European nor a Latin American who succeeds pope François, but an American. A real one!

He was born in Chicago (Illinois) on September 14, 1955, of Louis-Marius Prévost, of French and Italian origin, and Mildred Martinez, of Spanish origin. He spent many years as a missionary in Pérou before being elected head of the Augustiniens, Saint Augustin (354-430) was born in Thagaste (on the borders of l'Algérie and la Tunisie). In 383, after studying in Carthage, he left for l'Italie.

His meditation also encourages the faithful to perseverance in charity by advocating the pooling of goods and their redistribution according to the needs of each.

Why the choice of Léon XIV? To reconnect with pope Léon XIII (1878-1903), pope of the social doctrine of the Église who had denounced the exploitation of workers at the end of the 19th century and of a relative openness to the world as a fine diplomat. It is therefore very modestly that I wish to address a prayer to the pope.

Our neoliberal societies do not take the human factor, that is to say the living, sufficiently into account. I know something about that! Productivism crushes farmers.

Moreover, the pope began his pontificate during the inauguration mass, by criticizing the excesses of capitalism, in front of tens of thousands of people and a gathering of foreign leaders. According to him, it is an economy 'that exploits the resources of the earth and marginalizes the poorest'. Holy Father, at the same time as you want peace in the world, you must challenge them on world hunger with more consideration for farmers, by stopping all speculation on production.

FAMINE IS A TRAGEDY The subject of famine is indeed topical. It is a phenomenon that is far from being new or isolated. Wars bring their share of suffering and among them above all, obviously, hunger.

Famine is a tragedy. It is agonizing suffering and a slow death for those who fall victim to it. In developing countries, 80% of people suffering from hunger live in rural areas and half are small-scale traditional farmers.

If we do not reform agriculture in depth, more than 120 million farmers will sink into extreme poverty by 2030 according to a report from the ONU. It is therefore imperative to bring forward and support solutions: reform of industrial agriculture and return to a diversified and reasoned agriculture. We must set up an agricultural strategy that allows, at the same time, to feed the world while protecting the health of populations.

Agriculture must produce food accessible to the greatest number while properly remunerating farmers. The production and distribution chain must be organized in order to better distribute wealth. In Pérou, agriculture is the main source of income for 2.3 million families, or 34% of the country's households.

The État péruvien has committed to multiple international trade agreements which have negative impacts on the environment, biodiversity or even on the malnutrition of a large part of the population.

INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE This also applies to the French agricultural production system. Many farmers face serious financial difficulties. If incomes are low, expenses are high.

We must feed the animals, buy equipment, invest to comply with ever more numerous and binding sanitary and social standards. Farmers struggle to earn a sufficient income to live, many of them survive thanks to the RSA. Pope François denounced, in 2021, intensive agriculture and food waste: 'We produce enough food for all peoples, but that many are deprived of their daily bread constitutes a real scandal, a crime that violates fundamental human rights'.

This is not the first time a pope has addressed the subject of hunger. As early as 1963, Jean XXIII spoke before the Organisation pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (FAO) on the occasion of the 'week against hunger'. A church more particularly committed against hunger.

In the hope of better days, for believers: 'Let us pray'! and for others. 'Work with us so that the prophecy comes true and let's say stop to world hunger!'.