Pope Francis argued that poverty isn't inevitable during his visit in Madagascar on Sunday, September 8.
Pope Francis talked about poverty during his visit to the Akamasoa project, dubbed as "City of Friendship," a quarry located on a hillside above the largest dump site in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar. During his talk, he called for new development strategies to combat global poverty, saying that the poor deserve the dignity of work.
The project was founded by Rev. Pedro Opeka, an Argengine priest who was overwhelmed by the poverty of people in the country that he focused on creating income opportunities for the poor. Speaking in French, Francis mentioned that Opeka was his student in 1967-1968 at a Buenos Aires seminary and remembers him as someone who didn't much care for studying but "He had a love for work."
With Madagascar's president listening behind him, he remarked that the existence of Akamasoa is proof that God "heard the cry of the poor." He continued "Your plea for help - which arose from being homeless, from seeing your children grow up malnourished, from being without work and often regarded with indifference if not disdain - has turned into a song of hope for you and for all those who see you. Every corner of these neighborhoods, every school or dispensary, is a song of hope that refutes and silences any suggestion that some things are 'inevitable. Let us say it forcefully: Poverty is not inevitable!"
Since its establishment, the quarry has produced stones that were used to build houses, roads, schools and health clinics that can now be seen on the hillside. The project is funded by global donors and has been recognized by the Madagascar government. Akamasoa, which claims to have built 4,000 houses in over 20 villages, employs around 700 people in the quarry whole others serve as carpenters or attend training classes.
In an interview with The Associated Press prior to Francis' visit, Opeka claimed "Akamasoa is a revolt against poverty, it is a revolt against inevitability. When we started here it was an inferno, people who were excluded from the society."
