Statement by Bishop of London

For the last 10 days, many of us – of all religions - have been praying for a breakthrough at the meeting of government heads today at the UN High Level Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs set out to halve global poverty by 2015. The UN Secretary General has warned that, on present performance, the goals will not be met by the majority of countries who signed up to them. It is up to those meeting in New York to live up to their promises to the world's poorest people, whose lives will be directly affected by the outcome. We are praying for all the leaders, including our own Prime Minister,that they will find the courage and unity needed to get achievement of the MDGs back on track. We encourage Gordon Brown in his work at the UN today, and assure him of our support.

Yesterday, the eve of the meeting and the culmination of our vigil of prayer, I and many friends and well-wishers were fasting, so that we may better focus our hearts and minds on our duty to love to neighbour, and our responsibility to our poorest and most vulnerable brothers and sisters.

Heavenly Father,
whose Son Jesus Christ came to bring good news to the poor,
to heal the broken-hearted, and to set free those who are oppressed:
give grace to the leaders of all the nations,
that, being so hungry for justice for your poorest people,
and fired with passion for their raising up,
they may be renewed in their determination to fulfil the promises they have made to them;
that the chains of hunger, disease and inequality may be broken;
and that all humanity may know life in all its fullness;
through him who came that we might have the same, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Ends