Dear Friend,

Last December 23rd and 24th, we launched 5 years of Jubilee 2025 campaigns with Pope Francis, global interfaith religious leaders and partners from nearly every continent at the Vatican. Working with more than 300 organizations and every major faith tradition across the US and in 160 countries, our 5 years of Jubilee campaigns focus on building a world where we all have enough.

With a major speech from Pope Francis and a global petition that already has more than 200,000 signatures, we committed -through 2030- to move debt relief, new forms of economic aid to eliminate poverty and the creation of a permanent process that can make certain that countries stay out of the debt trap.

As we move forward our unfinished business from Jubilee 2000 and our most ambitious campaigns in our history, we need your support. All contributions are doubled now, tax-deductible and propel the work of the global Jubilee movement to end poverty, address inequality and heal our planet.

With Republican and Democratic partners, we are working on bipartisan efforts to address the global debt crisis and drive new forms of aid to developing countries. Not only does our advocacy win debt relief, our bipartisan policies cost US taxpayers nothing, stabilize our too high food and fuel prices and help protect our retirement investments. Because of your partnership, we won support on debt relief from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and key Republican and Democratic Congressional leaders.

Your tax-deductible gift now grows a national and grassroots movement, for the next 5 years, that moves world leaders. Your contribution is matched and is critical for us to win policies that transform and lift the lives of billions of people.

Through 2030, we'll organize delegations to meet world leaders who make decisions on global debt, economic aid and new processes for the financial system to end poverty. In 2025, at the G7 in Canada, G20 in South Africa, UN processes and at the International Monetary Fund meetings - we blew the Shofar and trumpeted our continuing 5 years of campaigns.

Now your support is vital as the US government hosts the G20 in 2026 and Jubilee USA Network hosts the international and national Jubilee, faith and development community to move the G20.

I write you from Africa, after joining the G20 Summit in South Africa where we held major events, delivered petitions and pressed the presidents and prime ministers of the wealthiest countries to move debt relief, economic aid and transformative processes to alleviate poverty and stop countries from getting into debt crisis. We won unprecedented support from the G20, but now we must push world leaders to fully implement our policies that lift the vulnerable and protect our planet home.

Please join me and make a tax-deductible donation now to support the Jubilee mission as we host global advocates and partners in 2026 to move the G20 to implement Jubilee policies.

So grateful for your partnership,

Eric LeCompte
Executive Director

Twitter: @Eric_LeCompte
www.jubileeusa.org/support-us

P.S. Your tax-deductible gift now is matched and doubled and supports 5 years of our Jubilee campaign efforts. We are so grateful for your support.

Dear Friend,

Thanks to your support, Jubilee USA appears in tens of thousands of mainstream newspapers, radio shows and television programs every year on our efforts to build a world where we all have enough. See below a sampling of our media coverage in recent months.

Gratefully,

Brigid Smith
Communications and Operations Director
www.jubileeusa.org/support-us

P.S. Please make a donation to support our 5 years of Jubilee 2025 campaigns. Your tax-deductible gift is now matched and doubled.

JUBILEE IN THE NEWS 

G20 Summit

South Africa's G20 debt focus to be tested as US takes the chair  Reuters, Wall Street Journal, Fox News, US News and New York Times (November 24th)

G20 declaration in defiance of US marks rare victory for multilateralism Reuters (November 24th)

G20 summit in South Africa adopts declaration without the US Devex (November 24th)

G20 moves from Global South to U.S. as debt crisis deepens Anewz (November 24th)

G20 Summit in SA trumps detractors, puts poor countries’ issues at center of global discourse IOL (November 23rd)

Devex Newswire: G20 handed bold plan to ease Africa’s crushing debt load  Devex (November 20th)

We know how to fight global poverty. But do we have the energy to actually do it? America Magazine (November 20th)

Mini-Documentary on G20 G20 Interfaith (November 20th)

G20 panel calls for a new debt refinancing plan for low-income nations Devex (November 19th)

Africa: South Africa Hosts First G20 Africa Summit All Africa (November 19th)

What are the key issues at stake at the G20 summit in South Africa? Devex (November 17th)

Devex Newswire: Will Africa be forever indebted to its rich creditors? Devex (October 27th)

G20 recommits to debt relief — but critics say it’s far from enough Devex (October 22nd)

G20 vows to keep focus on developing countries' debt issues Reuters (October 16th)

US eyes 'back to basics' revamp of G20 when it assumes presidency next year Reuters (July 18th)

IMF and World Bank

Churches unite for Jubilee 2025 Debt Reform: "Behind statistics are human faces" WCC (October 17th)

IMF-World Bank meetings end with little tariff clarity, but economic foreboding Reuters (April 27th)

The Policy with Leah Featuring Spring Meetings 2025 Washington DC Saban Media (April 26th)

The KPFA Evening News (Saturday) KPFA (April 26th)

US tariffs threaten to push debt-distressed nations closer to the brink Devex (April 24th)

World Bank urged to reduce equity-to-loan ratio to free up funds for poor countries Reuters (April 22nd)

IMF chief hails new playbook to help countries navigate sovereign debt processes Reuters (April 17th)

World Bank under Trump: What’s next for US influence and funding? Devex (January 14th)

The Fourth Financing for Development Conference (FfD4)

Compromiso de Sevilla: mucho aliento, pocos dientes La Jornada (July 14th)

Devex Invested: What we’re watching at Financing for Development in Seville Devex (June 10th)

Calls for overhaul of global debt architecture intensify ahead of FfD4 Devex (June 5th)

US Jubilee Advocacy on Debt and Economic Policies

Letter: Relieving poor country debt is flagship US cause  Financial Times (June 5th)

U.S. bishops and Jubilee USA urge Trump to pursue debt relief during 2025 Jubilee Year Catholic News Agency (April 11th)

US bishops ask Trump in joint letter to pursue global debt relief in the Jubilee Year OSV News (April 10th)

USCCB committee chairman calls on President Trump to lead the way on international debt relief Catholic Culture (April 9th)

World Bank under Trump: What’s next for US influence and funding? Devex (January 14th)

G7 Summit

Interfaith community offers alternative conversation on economy during G7 Livewire Calgary (April 9th)

Jubilee Vatican Efforts, Pope Francis and Pope Leo

What does the Jubilee have to do with debt justice? US Catholic (August 12th)

When was the last time you thought about what “forgiveness” really means? Catholic Financial Life (June 30th)

New Vatican report calls for global economic reforms National Catholic Reporter (June 23rd)

Vatican & World News 21.06.2025 Vatican News (June 21st)

Finance experts launch report at Vatican on foreign debt relief Catholic News Service (June 20th)

Robert Francis Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV as cardinals elect first US pontiff The Guardian (May 8th)

Floored, stunned and full of hope': Reactions to election of Pope Leo XIV National Catholic Reporter (May 8th)

Robert Francis Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV, first American to hold papacy in Catholic Church’s history The Globe and Mail (May 8th)

The Times Radio: Breakfast with Chloe Tilley and Calum Macdonald The Times (April 26th)

The global impact of Pope Francis: From migration to taxes to A.I. weapons America Magazine (April 24th)

Devex Newswire: Jobs, nukes, and jitters at the World Bank Spring Meetings Devex (April 22nd)

Pope Francis Death Update: Seals Placed on Pope's Residence Newsweek (April 22nd)

Despite pope's hospitalization and Trump's USAID cuts, Jubilee Year push for debt relief continues National Catholic Reporter (March 12th)

Pope's appeal for debt relief gains momentum, Vatican News (March 7th)

Vatican & World News 07.03.2025, Vatican Radio (March 7th)

Video Resources

Mini-Documentary on G20 G20 Interfaith (November 20th)

When was the last time you thought about what “forgiveness” really means? Catholic Financial Life (June 30th)

The Policy with Leah Featuring Spring Meetings 2025 Washington DC Saban Media (April 26th)

Friend,

I write from Africa, as we just joined the first G20 Summit on the Continent. Africa is the most resource rich region - yet it boasts the highest extreme poverty numbers on the planet.

Thanksgiving, a unique American holiday, celebrates the Jubilee promise. The reality that our loving Creator gave us an abundant world - where we celebrate there is enough - and we are closest to the Creator and closest to one another when we share that abundance among us.

From the Continent - I wish you and your loved ones a blessed, joyous and blissful Thanksgiving. Here's to hoping that as you share with others, you glimpse the sacred.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Eric LeCompte
Executive Director
[email protected]

Twitter: @Eric_LeCompte
www.jubileeusa.org/support-us

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Reuters speaking on the G20 Ministerial Declaration on Debt Sustainability,  Africa Engagement Framework and beginning of the US G20 presidency. Read the excerpt below and follow the link to full article.

South Africa's G20 debt focus to be tested as US takes the chair

By: Colleen Goko

"South Africa tried to reinvigorate efforts during its year as G20 chair. The group's finance ministers issued a stand-alone Ministerial Declaration on Debt Sustainability – the first since the pandemic - and committed to strengthening the Common Framework.

The framework has delivered debt treatments to four nations — Chad, Zambia, Ghana, and Ethiopia — since its launch.

Eric LeCompte, executive director of development group Jubilee USA Network, said this showed the limitations.

But he said the agenda of the United States, which will lead the G20 until late 2026, included addressing debt challenges, boosting economic growth and expanding job creation - offering some continuity.

LeCompte said the G20 Africa Engagement Framework, launched in October by its finance ministers to address hurdles to growth and development on the continent, marked an accomplishment.

It will deal with issues "from economic growth to debt and financing to development to anti-poverty initiatives to creating jobs across the continent," said LeCompte."

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Reuters speaking on the G20 as the United States assumes its presidency, and issues like development and economic growth. Read the excerpt below and follow the link to full article.

G20 declaration in defiance of US marks rare victory for multilateralism

By: Tim Cocks and Andrea Shalal

"Despite the bitter differences, Washington's G20 agenda overlaps with South Africa's in key areas like development, economic growth and financial stability, notes Eric LeCompte, a U.N. adviser and executive director of non-profit Jubilee USA Network.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Devex speaking on the G20 Leaders' Declaration and global debt. Read the excerpt below and follow the link to full article.

G20 summit in South Africa adopts declaration without the US

By: Elissa Miolene

"Still, the leaders’ declaration did recognize the climbing debt burden facing countries in Africa, and the high cost of capital for nations across the continent. For Eric LeCompte, the executive director of the debt-focused Jubilee USA Network, that mattered — along with the G20’s recent launch of the Africa Engagement Framework, which aims to lock in the G20’s cooperation with Africa, and keep the continent’s most pressing financial issues on the agenda over the next five years. South Africa has committed to supporting the framework until 2030.

“There’s a plan for implementation, the goals are solid, and it actually translates some of the other issues that we really are concerned about in terms of economic growth, finance, debt and development,” said LeCompte. “We’ve never had an initiative like this since the G20 began.”"

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in IOL speaking on the G20 Leaders' Declaration and G20 Common Framework. Read the excerpt below and follow the link to full article.

G20 Summit in SA trumps detractors, puts poor countries’ issues at center of global discourse

By: Siphelele Dludla

"Eric LeCompte, executive director of the religious development group Jubilee USA Network, said the statement called for improving the Common Framework, the G20 process for countries seeking debt reductions.

“The fact that the Common Framework, in five years, provided debt treatment to only four countries that requested it, is a diplomatic way of stating its limitations, since we know 26 countries have been in debt crises since at least 2018,” LeCompte said.

“The declaration seems to indicate that the G20 would like the Common Framework to become a more bankruptcy-like process or comprehensive debt restructuring process. It's unprecedented for G20 leaders to call for inclusion of borrower countries to improve international debt policies.” 

Read more here.

Johannesburg, South Africa – The G20 Leaders' Summit began on Saturday in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the Group of 20 leaders adopted a declaration addressing global challenges.

Read the full G20 Leaders' declaration here.

Read Jubilee USA's press release on two reports released during the South Africa G20 Summit here.

Read Jubilee USA's press release on the South Africa G20 Summit here.

View Jubilee's events this week at the G20 meetings here.

Read Jubilee USA's press release on the G20 debt declaration here.

Read the full G20 ministerial declaration on debt sustainability here.

Two New G20 Reports Note Concerning Debt Statistics 

Religious Leaders Call for Debt Relief to Address Poverty during Summit

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in America Magazine speaking on poverty reduction, the G20 and global debt. Read the excerpt below and follow the link to full article.

We know how to fight global poverty. But do we have the energy to actually do it?

By: Kevin Clarke

“Despite the uncertainty at this year’s summit, Mr. LeCompte remains confident that the church and other humanitarian and anti-poverty advocates “are building a consensus on ending poverty.”

Those campaigners have won incremental successes, he said. But most wanted now are large-scale efforts that can only be initiated and maintained by the wealthiest states. “We need to move the G20, G7, [International Monetary Fund] and World Bank on more robust policies and implementation.”

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in G20 Interfaith’s 2025 documentary speaking on the themes of the Interfaith Forum taking place during the G20. Watch the documentary linked below.

Documentary - 2025 G20 Interfaith Forum Cape Town, South Africa

Watch here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Devex speaking on the G20’s new plan to ease Africa’s growing debt crisis. Read the excerpt below and follow the link to full article.

Devex Newswire: G20 handed bold plan to ease Africa’s crushing debt load

By: Helen Murphy 

Experts at the Boston University Global Development Policy Center found in their recent analysis that selling just 10% of the International Monetary Fund’s gold reserves would generate enough funds to offset this year’s cuts to foreign aid. “The selling of IMF gold reserves has precedence, it is impactful, it can make a huge difference, and it can be done again,” said Eric LeCompte of the Jubilee USA Network.

Read more here.