Last year, 500 parishes in England and Wales joined with the global church campaign to tackle the debt crisis that’s having a devastating impact on low-income countries. More than 22 parishes in the Doicese of Westminster signed the Cancel the debt petition with over 3,687 signatures including Bishop Jim Curry. Pope Francis called repeatedly for action on this debt crisis in the Jubilee Year, and 35,000 people signed CAFOD’s petition in response. This year we want to build on the momentum of 2025, when we saw hopeful signs of progress.
All countries borrow money. But due to a complex set of factors, low-income countries are being pushed into a deepening debt crisis, forced to pay ever higher interest rates to wealthy lenders. Often they have paid their original debt back, but spiralling interest means they will never break the cycle. Money that should be spent on food, healthcare, and education is flowing out of countries that can least afford it. Governments across the global south have an impossible choice between serving their people or paying their creditors.
Wesley Chibamba, Caritas Africa’s Policy and Advocacy Officer, explains why this is causing terrible suffering: “We have to find a solution. At the moment people are dying because they can’t access healthcare. Children cannot go to school. People are going hungry and children are sleeping on empty stomachs because the governments have debt obligations. Governments don’t have the capacity to respond to any kind of humanitarian crisis, like a flood or drought – they don’t have the funds.”
In the Jubilee Year, as a result of campaigning efforts around the world, the debt crisis was firmly on the agendas of international summits, with decision-makers agreeing that urgent action is needed.
The whole debt system needs to change, to make it fair and sustainable for low-income countries. Our government has the power to play a key role in bringing that change about, because it is hosting the G20 in 2027 – a crucial gathering of the world’s 20 most powerful economies. These leaders have the power to fix the global debt system.
This is why CAFOD is inviting parishes to sign a new petition this spring, and build on the momentum of 2025. Cardina Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of South Sudan has written a letter to parishioners in England and Wales to explain the impact the debt crisis is having on his country and this letter will be shared in parishes. To read more and if you can help with this, please see cafod.org.uk/parishdebtresources
