VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis lashed out at gluttony Wednesday and called for eating habits to be “moderate and socially responsible,” saying that Western societies troubled by eating disorders all too often waste great amounts of food even as many people elsewhere in the world go hungry.

 “In our continuing catechesis on the vices and the virtues, we now consider the sin of gluttony,” the pontiff told pilgrims and tourists during his weekly general audience. “As a guest at the wedding feast of Cana, Jesus taught the goodness of food and drink, and the joy of table fellowship.”

 “Rejecting the ritual distinction between pure and impure foods, the Lord turns our attention to our personal relationship with the consumption of food,” Francis continued.

 “In societies troubled by eating disorders and which, all too often, waste great amounts of food even as many people in our world go hungry, our eating habits should be moderate and socially responsible,” the Argentine pope added.

 “May the prayers we say in thanksgiving for God’s gift of our daily bread, inspire us to be mindful of our responsibility towards others and virtuous in our enjoyment of the good things of this earth,” the Roman Catholic leader said.

 jp