In the last year of his life, Pope Francis repeatedly spoke about the global debt crisis that is impacting many of the world's poorest countries. Calling for urgent action to be taken in this Jubilee Year, he said, “More than a question of generosity, this is a matter of justice.”
It’s the world’s poorest countries who are the worst affected: 54 countries – from Kenya to Sri Lanka – are making huge repayments on high-interest loans to wealthy banks, institutions and governments, leaving them unable to properly fund essential services.
As debt expert Kiama Kaara tells us: "Debt crisis is not a purely economic issue. It’s every collapsed building, every collapsed road, every child who dies in the hospital because they could not get their medication.”
Often, countries have repaid their original debt several times over, but the debt will never be cleared because the interest on it keeps growing.
The Bible teaches us that money lending is about accompanying vulnerable people, not about profiteering. But in our current global system, powerful banks make huge profits from the vulnerability of poorer nations.
Pope Francis spoke directly about this, saying, "I have repeatedly stated that foreign debt has become a means of control whereby certain governments and private financial institutions of the richer countries unscrupulously and indiscriminately exploit the human and natural resources of poorer countries….In the spirit of this Jubilee Year, I urge the international community to work towards forgiving foreign debt…This is an appeal for solidarity, but above all for justice.”
Here are five key things you can do to honour Pope Francis' legacy and respond to his call:
Campaigners in the Philippines. Credit: Asian Peoples' Movement for Debt and Development (APMDD)
1. Sign the worldwide church petition
In parishes all over the world people are signing the petition calling for action on the debt crisis.
2. Give in Pope Francis' memory
Donate to the Pope Francis Candlelight Fund so we can support more communities suffering the impacts of debt crisis.
Father Charlie Chilufya, a priest based in Kenya, has written to parishioners in England and Wales about the debt crisis.
3. Order resources for your parish
Father Charlie Chilufya, a priest based in Kenya, has written a letter to parishioners in England and Wales, explaining the impact of the crisis and inviting them to sign the worldwide petition.
Campaigners at the 2019 climate lobby, The Time is Now
4. Come and meet your MP in July
On Wednesday 9 July 2025 thousands of people will join together in Westminster to speak to our MPs about the debt and climate crises.
5. Pray for the debt crisis to be resolved
Pray that world leaders will have wisdom and that there will be justice when it comes to resolving the debt crisis.