World Day of the Poor Celebrated

On November 14, Pope Francis celebrated Mass for the fifth World Day of the Poor, an annual tradition that began in 2017 with a resounding challenge to Christians: “Draw near to the poor, encounter them, meet their gaze, embrace them and let them feel the warmth of love that breaks through their solitude.” 

Troubled by the dire condition of the poor and all in destitution, Pope Francis sought to establish a day of hope and charity. He also wanted to bring out a particular dimension of the Church’s service to the poor.

Pope Francis has continually emphasized over the years the fact that “the poor are not statistics to cite when boasting of our works and projects. The poor are persons to be encountered.” 

Pope Francis intended this day to be a personal outreach to all those in need.

With this attitude the Pope reinforces the Church’s commitment not only of aiding the poor, but also loving them. This is because, he says, “The poor, always and everywhere, evangelize us, because they enable us to discover in new ways the true face of the Father.”

The structure of the World Day of the Poor is simple and effective. It began this year with a Novena for the Poor beginning on November 5, done as “a way to help us to prayerfully encounter in scripture God’s constant care for the poor and desire for more just relations in the community.”

The next part leading up to the World Day of the Poor was Pope Francis’ visit to Assisi, the home of his namesake saint, on November 12. He met several hundred poor people and, after hearing their stories, stated that “the world has become deaf to the plight of the poor.” Saint Francis of Assisi has become a sort of symbol for this celebration of the poor. His renowned and fervent charity is well suited for the occasion.

As in past years, Pope Francis celebrated the Holy Mass on the World Day of the Poor, November 14, at St. Peter’s Basilica. Among the attendees were some 2,000 people in poverty. Some aided in the readings and prayer intentions.

Along with the activism of the World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis initiated efforts to distribute food and other goods to the poor around Rome, and helped in acquiring medicine and paying for electricity bills. He encouraged dioceses around the world to engage in similar works of charity.

Finally, Pope Francis published a message summing up the spirit of the World Day of the Poor, addressing the specific challenges of this year, most especially the continuing struggle against poverty following the pandemic. This year’s motto was: “The poor you will always have with you.”

This year, the pope said, “It is my hope that the celebration of the World Day of the Poor, now in its fifth year, will grow in our local Churches and inspire a movement of evangelization that meets the poor personally wherever they may be.”