On Tuesday 27th May, representatives from various faith communities, including the Socius of Jesuits in Britain, Br Stephen Power SJ, gathered outside the UK Treasury in London as part of the global "Relay of Hope" campaign, advocating for the cancellation of unjust debts burdening low-income countries. Organised by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), the event was one of many held across more than 30 countries during the five-day initiative.

Participants from Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim communities convened at noon near the Treasury, proceeding together to its entrance. There, they engaged in a brief interfaith prayer session, during which a candle was passed among them as they collectively voiced the phrase "Turn debt into hope." The shared goal of this global initiative is for the cancellation or restructuring of national debt payments for countries unable to afford them, aiming to free up resources for essential public services.

Br Stephen Power SJ said: “This fits in with the [Catholic] Church’s Year of Jubilee, which goes back to the 1300s when the Church invoked the Bible which talks about the cancellation of debt. So this year the theme is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, and so 'turning debt into hope' is more than a slogan, it’s really for us as church people, as Jesuits, we want that to become a spiritual and material reality.”

Paul Chitnis, Director of Jesuit Missions, who was also in attendance, said: “Too many countries, low-income countries, some countries in which Jesuits Missions works, are faced with servicing enormous debts at the expense of their people… so we’re calling on the UK Government to play a leading role in the international community in reducing the international debt in this Jubilee Year.”

The London vigil was one of many occurring worldwide from May 24 to May 28, linking communities from Brazil to Cambodia and Puerto Rico to South Africa. Symbolic candle-lighting ceremonies took place at significant political landmarks, including the US Congress and the United Nations headquarters in New York. The campaign seeks to raise awareness and prompt action ahead of the upcoming UN summit on finance for development in Seville, Spain.

Looking ahead, Jesuit Missions is intensifying its efforts to address the global debt crisis. The international mission and development office of the Jesuits in Britain has this week published a selection of resources, including a "top ten" list outlining reasons for debt cancellation, references to Pope Francis’s views on debt, a prayer from Jesuit priest Fr Charlie Chilufya, and suggestions for further reading on the subject

You can also sign the CAFOD petition here.

Banner photo courtesy of CAFOD