As the global food crisis continues to unfold and impact on the poorest, World Council of Churches general secretary the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia has called on international institutions and governments to move into swift action.

The plea "Give us this day our daily bread" needs to be heard by political leaders meeting in Rome on the global food crisis, says Jean Blaylock, looking at the response of world church representatives.

In his audiences and public liturgical duties this week, Pope Benedict XVI, leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, has highlighted the concerns of World Food Day and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.