Commissioned by Pope Francis, this report has a clear and urgent goal: to help build a global economy that serves people, especially the most vulnerable, and leaves no one behind.
"Shouldn't all debts just be repaid?" Read the answer to this and other questions about the global debt crisis.
Senior Church figures are calling for urgent action on the global debt crisis because of the devastating impact it is having on ordinary people across the world.
Throughout the summer of 2025, parishioners in 459 parishes in England and Wales signed a worldwide church petition about the debt crisis.
The petition was accompanied by a letter from Father Charlie Chilufya, a priest based in Kenya, which was read out at Masses to encourage people to sign. The petition called for urgent action to tackle the crippling burden of debt that's affecting the world's poorest countries.
In this short message, Father Charlie conveys his thanks to each and every person who took the time to sign the petition - all 44,001 of you!
CAFOD collected these signatures online and in parishes in this Jubilee Year as part of a worldwide campaign with our Caritas sister organisations, and many other partners. Together we have called on world leaders to do more to tackle the debt crisis because of the impact it is having on many of the world's poorest communities, as their governments channel huge sums to rich western banks instead of funding essential services.
We presented the petition to 10 Downing St recently, with other organisations in the UK (Christian Aid, SCIAF, War on Want and Debt Justice).
Helen, centre, hands in debt petitions to Downing St in November 2025 with representatives from different organisations
We’ve helped to build the case internationally this year that action is needed. Tackling the debt crisis is now on the agenda for world leaders and financial institutions, dominating discussion at 2025 global summits, from the G7 to the UN General Assembly and G20 Summit.
Campaigners making a huge noise about debt justice this year at every major political moment has pushed the issue into the spotlight.
CAFOD campaigners in Manchester on the Global Day of Action for COP30
After the Financing for Development Conference in Seville in June, a major global initiative attended by over 50 heads of state and almost all governments globally, the outcome document that all parties signed up to included a pledge to “encourage[s] jurisdictions to consider passing legislation aimed at limiting holdouts by creditors”, ie tackle the behaviour of the big banks, which is exactly what we’ve been calling for.
Our campaigning this year has helped put global debt on the map here in the UK and made it impossible for our government to ignore. We’ve established a regular back and forth with them on the policy detail that’s needed, and we’re continuing to build and work with a supportive group of backbench MPs. We’ve secured and contributed to dozens of parliamentary meetings and events making the case for a Debt Justice Law.
We could not have done it without you. We’ll continue campaigning on debt in 2026, pressuring the UK government to take bold action that could help millions of people out of poverty. Watch this space!
