The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, has encouraged people to play their part in ending global poverty.Although the Archbishop admitted he was hopeless at keeping New Year's resolutions, he took inspiration from the late Nelson Mandela in his New Year message as he suggested people make a different kind of resolution.
"I want to suggest this year that each of us makes a resolution to try and change the world a bit where we are," Archbishop Welby said in his message.
"Nelson Mandela said that dealing with poverty is not an act of charity; it's an act of justice. He said every generation has the chance to be a great generation and we can be that great generation."
The Archbishop also defended the Church's decision to speak out on issues affecting society, like energy bills, and commented that the Church was the "glue that's holding the whole of society together" in many places.
In his Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme on New Year's Eve, the Archbishop took aim at the financial system, saying that although there were reasons for "economic optimism", there was still a need for change.
"Will [the system] revert to the bad old ways of the past or continue the efforts for cultural change towards something that serves the common good? ... leadership is the issue," he said.
"Leadership must have a vision based in justice and hope, so that everyone at every level is committed to change."