Today's celebration of the thirteenth World Food Day provides the Holy Father with an opportunity to call on the international community and its institutions to consider once more the tragedy of famine and malnutrition, the cause of sufferings and death for that part of humanity which is poor, weak and defenceless and which is denied the right to enjoy the abundant fruits of the earth.

The theme of 'harvesting nature's diversity,, in order to guarantee complete development, which FAO has placed at the centre of the reflections for this day, reminds us of the duty to respect the riches of creation, the common heritage of mankind, and is a warning to use them responsibly and to conserve them.

The holy father hopes that each person and each country will rediscover the meaning of sharing, and strive to ensure that international action will be inspired by the principle of the universal destination of the earth's goods, as the only means to achieving a just and orderly use of natural resources, so as to overcome divisions, selfishness and misappropriations.

In expressing his encouragement to all those who, in every continent and with different responsibilities, associate themselves with the goals and with the celebration of World Food Day, his holiness invokes upon them every grace and blessing of almighty god.

Rome, October 15, 1993

JOHN PAUL II

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