Peace and Justice Ministry

Jubilee Debt Relief Awareness

PROCLAIM JUBILEE INITIATIVE
TURN DEBT INTO HOPE

Debt continues to burden impoverished/nutrition insecure countries, intensified over the last 25 years due to 1. the Covid pandemic, 2. Climate Change, and 3. widespread wars and conflicts.

As a part of the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis called for the developed world and the IMF and the World Bank to address the debts of countries (sovereign debt) who are in no condition to repay
those debts. They met on October 12-19, 2025. It should be noted that since its inception in 1996, the IMF has forgiven 100% of the debt of 37 countries, 31 of them in Africa under the
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries program. Haiti, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Honduras and Afghanistan also received help. There is also the African Development Fund, a regional financing agency.

The World Bank has, since 2005, done likewise for 25 countries under their Multilateral Debt Relief for poor and developing economies. These included Ukraine, Philippines, Pakistan,
Ghana, Greece, Mozambique, as well as other in financial distress after COVID. The affected countries must commit to poverty reduction and reforms to government corruption and
management.

All three of these organizations need our prayers while they deliberate and tangible support (petition). There are 54 countries now in distress and under consideration for debt relief this year.

Click here to read Pope Francis’ reflections on this matter. We are asked to join in praying the Prayer for wisdom and justice in addressing external debt.

Post expires at 10:34am on Friday November 13th, 2026