Pope Francis’ message for this Sunday’s World Day of the Poor, the seventh annual observance, is a powerful call to serve those in need.
The Holy Father reflects on the Book of Tobit, where Tobit urges his son Tobias to “not turn your face away from the poor.” Pope Francis explains this means making concrete efforts to help the marginalised, not merely thinking about God. Tobit told his son, “To all those who practice righteousness give alms from your possessions, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it.”
Today’s culture, the Pope laments, often ignores the cries of the poor. He warns against the temptation to disregard those in need that cross our paths.
He says, “Everyone is our neighbour. Regardless of the colour of their skin, their social standing, the place from which they came, if I myself am poor, I can recognise my brothers or sisters in need of my help.”
We cannot turn away from a poor person and still claim to serve Christ.
This message stresses the need for personal engagement in caring for the vulnerable.
Pope Francis praises the many volunteers who already serve but says our prayer must be coupled with action, saying, “The calling of every Christian is to become personally involved.”
He touches on both traditional and new forms of poverty demanding our attention, and mentions lack of food, shelter, and healthcare, but also issues like unsafe working conditions, job insecurity, forced unemployment, and despair among youth.
Pope Francis stresses the need to care for both material and spiritual needs and reminds us the poor are not merely statistics but real people deserving of dignity and relationship. The poor need our humanity, open hearts, and friendship, and we are called to truly encounter them as brothers and sisters.
The pontiff notes that while politics can serve the common good, we cannot passively wait for solutions “from on high”. The poor themselves must be empowered and included in the process of change and responsibility.
The message explores both individual and societal dimensions of poverty. While urging charity and volunteerism, Pope Francis also advocates for just policies and reforms. He chastises speculation driving up prices and harming families, and highlights the need for living wages, workplace safety, and labour rights.
This World Day of the Poor is a chance to reflect on how to better serve the vulnerable, through both individual charity and addressing systemic injustice. Will we choose to see and embrace our poor brothers and sisters, or continue looking the other way?
The call to action the Pope leaves us with is powerful: “May the steadfast love of Saint Therese stir our hearts on this World Day of the Poor and help us not to ‘turn our face away from anyone who is poor’.”
As Christians, caring for the poor cannot be optional. Pope Francis makes a compelling biblical case for prioritising the needs of the marginalised. He goes beyond encouraging almsgiving to advocating relationship and justice.
It is time for us to examine our own response to poverty. Do we see the face of Christ in the poor and act on their behalf?
This World Day of the Poor calls us to open our eyes, hearts, and hands to those crying out for help.