Pope calls hunger "global scandal"

Pope Francis is demanding the world pay attention to the needy and the homeless, and calls hunger a quote: "global scandal."

(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE FRANCIS, SAYING:

"We are in front of a global scandal of around one billion - one billion people who still suffer from hunger today. We cannot look the other way and pretend this does not exist. The food available in the world is enough to feed everyone."

In a video message on Tuesday, the Pope launched a campaign, called "One Human Family - Food for All."

The initiative, dubbed a "wave of prayer," encouraged anti-hunger activists around the world to pray at the same time for a half hour.

The campaign urges governments to include the right to food in their national legislation.