Global warming, pollution, food scarcity and destruction of the environment are some of the problems facing the world today.
STEFANO ZAMAGNI
Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences
“The big problems are all of an ethical nature. So to solve ethical problems we need an ethics-oriented leadership.”
Here is a thought Pope Francis shared in his encyclical Laudato si':
“The problem is that we still lack the culture needed to confront this crisis. We lack leadership capable of striking out on new paths.”
The Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the FAO along with the Joseph Ratzinger Vatican Foundation held a seminar outlining ethical leadership based on reflecting on the present to build and prepare for the future.
FR. FEDERICO LOMBARDI
Joseph Ratzinger Vatican Foundation
“We spoke a lot about organizational aspects, management, etc. Instead, the real need is for leaders with the capacity to see the big picture. They should be able to look ahead and see their objective. They should put all their technical tools and personal capabilities into play to reach their goals.”
One of the main problems today is hunger. This year the United Nations proposes launching a program to provide “healthy nutrition for a #ZeroHunger world.” Today, one person out of every nine goes hungry, almost always due to war, climate change and marginalization.
STEFANO ZAMAGNI
Pontificial Academy of Socal Sciences
“By 2050 the world population will be 10 billion. Today we are 7.2 billion. To feed 10 billion people, agricultural production must increase by 70 percent. To do so however, we must increase the amount of land used for cultivation by 30 percent. That's the dilemma. In order to feed the population, we must destroy the environment.”
MARIA HELENA SEMEDO
Deputy Director of the FAO, UN
“How to feed 10 billion people? We preserve the environment. These are the challenges we have ahead of us.”
These are challenges to be faced by any future leaders, who Pope Francis says should try “meeting the needs of the present with concern for all and without prejudice towards coming generations.”
