The Vatican’s charity, Caritas Internationalis, has expressed outrage over the US plans to cut funding for USAID, calling it “reckless” and potentially devastating. Cardinal Michael Czerny, Pope Francis’ point man on development, warned that millions could die as a result of the cuts.
Czerny said every incoming government has the right to review its foreign aid budget, but dismantling an agency after making funding commitments is not acceptable. He urged caution, noting that it takes time to find alternative funding sources or solutions.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) manages over $40 billion in combined appropriations each year, accounting for around 40% of the global aid budget. The Trump administration’s sweeping funding freeze has shut down most programs worldwide, though a federal judge recently put a temporary halt on plans to pull thousands of agency staffers off the job.
Czerny acknowledged that some programs may be subject to reforms, but warned against “shutting down” as a solution. He emphasized the importance of caring for migrants and refugees, citing Pope Francis’ emphasis on welcoming and protecting those fleeing conflicts, poverty, and climate disasters.
The Vatican has urged governments to call on the US administration to reverse course, warning that stopping USAID will jeopardize essential services for hundreds of millions of people and condemn them to dehumanizing poverty or even death.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/popes-point-man-migration-aid-concerned-usaid-cuts-118640675