“Unless we choose to become poor in passing riches, worldly power and vanity, we will never be able to give our lives in love; we will live a fragmented existence, full of good intentions but ineffective for transforming the world,” the pope said in a message for the World Day of the Poor.
Being faithful to God means taking the risk of setting aside one’s own needs and plans in order to serve others, Pope Francis said, celebrating Mass for the World Day of the Poor.
Even during a global pandemic, the World Day of the Poor will be an important opportunity for parishes to highlight the importance of charity and spiritual comfort for those in need, said a Vatican official.
The poor are the church’s treasure because they give every Christian a chance to “speak the same language as Jesus, that of love,” Pope Francis said, celebrating Mass for the World Day of the Poor.
In the message, the pope called for Christians to understand the importance of embracing and assisting the poor, oppressed and outcast.
As the rich get richer, the increasing misery and cries of the poor are ignored every day, Pope Francis said.
The Pope Francis asked for an examination of conscience to ask are we listening to the poor in a message for the World Day of the Poor — to be marked each year on the 33rd Sunday of ordinary time — will be celebrated Nov. 18 this year and will focus on a verse from Psalm 34, “This poor one cried out and the Lord heard.”
People must make “a serious examination of conscience to understand whether we are really capable of listening to the poor,” the pope said in a message for the World Day of the Poor.
