Pope recognized Brazil's leadership in creating the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, says Wellington Dias.

247 - The Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger, Wellington Dias, stated that Pope Leo XIV recognized Brazil's leadership role in the creation of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative launched by the Brazilian government to mobilize countries and institutions in the fight against food insecurity in the world. The statements were made after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's audience with the pontiff, held this Monday (13), at the Vatican. 

According to Wellington Dias, the meeting was marked by an atmosphere of respect and cooperation. “In the audience with Pope Leo XIV, President Lula introduced me as 'Wellington Dias, the indigenous man, and the Minister of Social Development, who coordinates the implementation of the Brazil Without Hunger Plan and who has removed Brazil from the Hunger Map, reaching the lowest level in the country's history, according to the FAO/UN, and is reducing misery and poverty, with greater equality',” he reported. The minister also recounted that he presented the pontiff with the pin of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty and that the Pope highlighted the Christian commitment to this cause. “In the priorities I highlighted in the published encyclical, I emphasized the commitment of Christians to the care for overcoming hunger and poverty,” the pontiff stated, according to Dias. "The Pope was very attentive to President Lula, Mrs. Janja, and the Brazilian delegation, and acknowledged the outstanding role of Brazil's leadership in the creation of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. He said he will be praying to God for the world to achieve good results by 2030," the minister added.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva described his meeting with the Pope as "excellent" and stated that the audience addressed religion, faith, Brazil, and major global challenges. "Janja and I had an excellent meeting with His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, at the Vatican. We talked about religion, faith, Brazil, and the immense challenges we face in the world," he declared. Lula congratulated the pontiff on the Apostolic Exhortation. Dilexi Te, which reaffirms the link between faith and social justice. “I congratulated the Holy Father on the Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te "And his message that we cannot separate faith from love for the poorest. I told him that we need to create a broad movement of indignation against inequality, and I consider the document a reference that needs to be read and put into practice by everyone," he said.

The president also recalled his close relationship with historical figures of the Catholic Church in Brazil, such as Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns, Dom Hélder Câmara, Dom Luciano Mendes de Almeida, Pedro Casaldáliga, and the current president of the CNBB (National Conference of Brazilian Bishops), Dom Jaime Spengler, highlighting the importance of the Basic Ecclesial Communities in his personal and political formation. Lula also mentioned his participation in the FAO World Food Forum in Rome and emphasized that Brazil has been removed from the Hunger Map in two and a half years of his government. "We are taking this debate to the world through the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty," he stated.

Finally, Lula invited the Pope to participate in COP30, which will be held in 2025 in Belém (PA). The pontiff explained that he will not be able to attend due to the Jubilee, but guaranteed Vatican representation at the event and expressed his desire to visit Brazil in the future. “We are very happy to know that His Holiness intends to visit Brazil at the opportune moment. He will be very well received, with the affection, welcome and faith of the Brazilian people,” stated the president. The audience reinforced Brazil's leading role in the fight against hunger, the reduction of inequalities and the promotion of social justice, principles that guide both the Brazil Without Hunger Plan and the country's diplomatic actions.