HOW POPE FRANCIS HOST LUNCH WITH 1,300 OF THE POOR IN ROME, GENOCIDE IN GAZA INVESTIGATED, BLACK CATHOLICS... (1168 hits)
For Immediate Release From Vatican News!
(A Ten-Minute Read)
Pope Francis Hosts 1,300 of Rome's Poor For lunch at Vatican
Pope Francis welcomes 1,300 poor people to the Vatican for a special lunch in the Paul VI Audience Hall on the Church's World Day of the Poor with this year's theme "The Prayer of the Poor Ascends to God". He thanks all who helped make it possible and all those around the world in local dioceses and parishes promoting initiatives of solidarity with those needing it. By Alessandro Di Bussolo e Antonella Palermo
During the lunch for 1,300 people from around the city in need of assistance, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to all those in dioceses and parishes around the world who have undertaken initiatives of solidarity with the most disadvantaged. The special lunch for 1,300 guests welcomed by Pope Francis was offered by the Italian Red Cross with around 340 volunteers serving the meal.
During the Angelus, just before the lunch began, Pope Francis recalled that this Sunday 17 November marks the World Day of the Poor, with this year's theme "The prayer of the poor rises up to God." And he said we can all ask ourselves these questions: "Do I go without something in order to give it to the poor? When I give alms, do I touch the hand of the poor person and look him or her in the eyes? Brothers and sisters, let us not forget that the poor cannot wait!"
The Beauty of simple gestures
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Papal Almoner and Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, which organised the banquet, explained to the Vatican's media why Pope Francis never tires of repeating this annual gesture: simply to follow the example of Jesus, "to restore dignity to people." Rosario Valastro, president of an association that distributes products and food parcels daily to help the homeless in response to the needs and requirements of so many people, emphasises the value of the beauty that lies in simple things and small gestures. "May their living on the margins of society, in solitude, not make them invisible to our eyes, nor erase their human dignity."
The lunch, enlivened by the national Red Cross fanfare, included a menu of lasagna with vegetables, beef meatloaf stuffed with spinach and cheese, mashed potatoes, fruit, and dessert. At the end, each person will be given a backpack offered by the Vincentian Fathers (Congregation of the Mission), containing food and personal hygiene products.
Free Healthcare at Mother of Mercy Clinic
Today also marks the culmination of the efforts made by the Dicastery for Evangelisation over the past week, which has provided for the needs of the neediest with various charitable initiatives, including, the payment of bills for the neediest families through contacts with parishes. This initiative was made possible through the traditional generosity of Italy's UnipolSai insurance company. The Madre di Misericordia (Mother of Mercy) outpatient clinic that works with the Dicastery to support those living in precarious conditions closed last night with "a river of charity," its director Massimo Ralli noted, "thanks to the many volunteers who have made it possible to welcome and visit almost 1,000 poor people this week."
More than 5 Million Living In Absolute Poverty In Italy
At the same time, all parish and diocesan communities have responded to the invitation to place the needs of the poor in their neighbourhoods at the centre of their pastoral activities through concrete gestures of solidarity. Caritas Italiana, Italy's national Catholic charities, published the 28th edition of the Report on Poverty and Social Exclusion in Italy entitled "Blades of Grass in the Cracks. Responses of Hope" presented as part of the first synodal assembly of the Churches in Italy, which closed on 17 November at the Basilica of Saint Paul's Outside the Walls. Today in Italy 9.7% of the population lives in poverty, practically one person in ten. In all, there are 5 million 694 thousand living in absolute poverty making a total of over 2 million 217 thousand families (8.4% of households). This figure, which is slightly higher than in 2022 on a family basis and stable on an individual basis, is still the highest in the historical trend and does not show signs of decreasing.
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Pope On World Day Of The Poor: Every Act Of Compassion Is A Sign Of Hope
In his homily during the Mass for the World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis calls on us to recognise God’s presence in the suffering of the poor and to act with hope and compassion in the face of injustice. By Francesca Merlo
Reflecting on the apocalyptic imagery from the Gospeal reading of the day, taken from Mark's Gospel, Pope Francis opened his homily on the World Day of the Poor on Sunday 17 November by acknowledging the deep feelings of anguish that resonate today. The text reads: “The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven". This, to Pope Francis, reflects the pains of our world - famine, war, inequality, and the indifference that follows.
The Pope warned that in a world in which social media amplifies fears and insecurities it is easy to succumb to despair. Resigning in this way can, in turn, lead to us being robbed of the ability to see God's hand at work, which can transform our faith into what Pope Francis described as "a harmless devotion", that neither moves nor inspires meaningful charity.
However, the Pope continued, it is precisely in darkness that God draws near as "just when everything seems to collapse, God comes, God gathers us together to save us.” Jesus, through his death and resurrection, turned the darkest moment of human history into the dawn of salvation, explained the Pope.
Holy Mass on World Day Of The Poor, Signs Of Hope Amid Despair
Pope Francis then referred to the image of the fig tree budding in the springtime. With this in mind he urged the faithful to look for signs of hope, even in the harshest realities. The Lord's presence among the poor and suffering, he continued, reminds us that “where there seems to be only injustice, pain, and poverty, the Lord draws near to free us.”
The job of Christ’s disciples, Pope Francis explained, is to make this hope visible. Through acts of justice, solidarity, and charity, we each can become “signs of the Lord’s presence,” showing that he is close to all those who suffer.
An Invitation To Act
Bringing his homily to a close, Pope Francis reminded the faithful that change begins with small, daily actions. Whether in how we live, how we care for our environment, or how we share our resources, each act of compassion can become a sign of hope. "And I say this to the Church, I say it to the Governments, I say it to the International Organisations, I say it to each and every one: please", concluded the Pope, "let us not forget the poor".
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Pope To Bless "13 Keys" Of Homes For The Marginalised
On World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis will bless 13 symbolic keys representing global efforts to house the homeless through the Vincentian "13 Houses" project. By Francesca Merlo and Patricia Ynestroza
Something different is happening during this year’s World Day of the Poor. Before presiding over Holy Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis will bless “13 keys”, or rather, 13 statues each representing a key. The gesture, which demonstrates the Church's closeness to people in need, around the world, marks a significant milestone in the “13 Houses” project, a global initiative spearheaded by the FamVin Homeless Alliance.
According to Mark McGreevey, Coordinator of the FamVin Homeless Alliance, the project is inspired by the charitable legacy of St. Vincent de Paul, who in 1643 used a royal bequest, granted to him by then King Louis XIII, to establish 13 homes for street children in Paris. The homes did more than just provide shelter for the children, offering them education and life skills to help them grow to be independent.
A Vision Rooted In The Vincentian Charism
Speaking to Vatican News’ Patricia Ynestroza, McGreevey explained that the FamVin Homeless Alliance was launched in 2017 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of St Vincent de Paul. "There are 160 branches of the Vincentian family worldwide", he said.
The “13 Houses” project aims to build metaphorical homes in each of the 160 countries where the Vincentian family is active, targeting around 10,000 people in need. The project combines immediate aid, such as housing construction and community building, with systemic change, including advocacy efforts at institutions like the United Nations.
The Symbolism Of "13 keys"
The concept of the "13 Keys" stems from the initiative of the Jubilee Year, in which Pope Francis highlighted the work of the FamVin Homeless Alliance. McGreevey explained that the keys represent homes built in 13 countries: Syria, Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, the Central African Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Italy, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.
Humanitarian Situation In Syria Remains Dire
"In some countries, like the UK, the project involves a single multi-family building," McGreevey said. "In Syria, where Pope Francis has shown personal interest, 13 houses will be constructed in cities like Damascus and Homs". The aim, McGreevey continued, "is to demonstrate that housing projects can succeed not only in developed nations but also in regions affected by war and famine."
The 13 countries represent the diversity of the project, which spans all five continents. "This initiative serves as a catalyst for further action," McGreevey stressed, adding, “and we hope it inspires others within the Church to take up similar efforts."
The vastness of this project, and the Pope's support for its work, is also a symbol of Pope Francis' closeness to his flock, all over the world. It is for reasons such as these, as he stretches to show closeness to all the corners of the globe, that he is dubbed the "Pope of the peripheries".
Hope And Renewal
Sunday's blessing of the 13 statues of keys will, in fact, be a strong reminder of the Church's work in supporting the poor and marginalised. Over the next year, families from each of the 13 countries represented in the project will travel to the Vatican to receive the "keys" to their new homes.
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Pope: Investigate Whether GenocideI Is Taking Place In Gaza, Respect Human Dignity
In a book for the Jubilee 2025, Pope Francis addresses current issues, including the suffering of war displaced and the famine in Palestine. He underscores the importance of respecting human dignity. The book comes out on Tuesday 19 November in Italy, Spain and Latin America, and will follow in other countries.
The new book by Pope Francis for the Jubilee 2025 focuses on the theme, "Hope never disappoints. Pilgrims towards a better world" and will be published by Hernán Reyes Alcaide, Edizioni Piemme publishers. The book comes out on Tuesday 19 November in Italy, Spain and Latin America, and later in other countries.
New Book of Pope Francis (Italian Edition) To Be Released On 19 November
In one passage the Pope mentions the humanitarian crisis in Gaza saying that what has happened must be investigated. Speaking of nations receiving war refugees, he says "In the Middle East, where the open doors of nations like Jordan or Lebanon continue to be a salvation for millions of people fleeing conflicts in the region: I am thinking above all of those who leave Gaza in the midst of the famine that has struck their Palestinian brothers and sisters given the difficulty of getting food and aid into their territory."
"According to some experts," Pope Francis writes, "what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide. It should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies."
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Pope Meets With Israeli Hostages Freed From Gaza
Men, women and children held hostage by Hamas meet with Pope Francis in the Vatican. The Israeli embassy to the Holy See describes the meeting as "moving", saying it "showed the Pope's closeness to the victims". By Salvatore Cernuzio
After enduring months in captivity in Gaza, a group of Israeli hostages, abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, were received by Pope Francis in the Vatican this morning.
Sixteen people—ten women, four men, and two children - attended the meeting.
One of the attendees presented the Pope with a football shirt bearing the name of Tal Shoham, a family member taken hostage alongside his wife, children, mother-in-law, and other relatives.
Pope Francis received the football shirt
Some of them were later released as part of a temporary ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
Several participants held signs displaying the faces and names of their missing or captive family members, with inscriptions such as "Bring him home."
Pope Francis touched each image as a gesture of blessing and paused in silent prayer.
The Israeli Embassy to the Holy See described the encounter as "moving", adding that it "showed the Pope's closeness to the victims of that horrible day and his commitment to their release".
The Pope's Appeals For Peace
Since the October 7 attacks, Pope Francis has consistently used his public addresses to call for the urgent release of hostages taken in the assault, urging a ceasefire in Gaza and humanitarian access to those affected. He has emphasized these actions as necessary steps toward resolving the devastating conflict, which erupted after the Hamas-led attack that resulted in over 1,100 deaths and the kidnapping of 240 people, including women, the elderly, and children.
Earlier in the year, on April 8, Pope Francis met with relatives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. On November 22, 2023, he received both the families of Israeli hostages and a delegation of Palestinians with loved ones suffering amid the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to the latest figures from Gaza's health ministry, over 43,700 casualties have resulted from relentless Israeli strikes. Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, noted that on that occasion the Pope sought to express “spiritual solidarity with the suffering of all involved.”
On October 17, the Pope also held a private audience with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Kidwa, joined by a delegation of peace activists. Describing the meeting as “important and moving,” both leaders said that Pope Francis showed extraordinary concern for peace efforts in the Middle East.
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Pope To Young Italians: ‘Don’t Retire From Life, Keep Dreaming!’
Addressing members of Italian Youth Council, Pope Francis urges young people to be witnesses of hope and agents of change in society, by actively engaging in solidarity giving voice to the voiceless. By Lisa Zengarini
“Don’t retire from life and don’t let anyone steal your hope, because hope never ever disappoints!" Pope Francis offered this impassioned encouragement on Saturday as he addressed a delegation of the Italian Youth Council, a consultative body representing young people in dialogue with public institutions.
Welcoming the group in the Consistory Hall on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the Council’s foundation, the Pope focused on hope, which is the central theme of the 2025 Jubilee Year, as a vital attitude for young people and a driver of engagement and social change.
According to a recent survey hope is the inner attitude with which young Italians identify most today. Taking his cue from these findings, Pope Francis remarked that Italian youth can be “artisans of hope” because, he said, they are “capable of dreaming” as opposed to many "disheartened people who look to the future with skepticism and pessimism."
Network And Make "Noise" For The Voiceless
He encouraged the Council to promote the active participation of young people in societal issues by ‘networking’ among the many associations inspired by values of solidarity and inclusion, and to make, “noise” to give voice to the voiceless and the excluded in society.
“Build networks to dream and do not lose this ability.”
The Pope acknowledged that it's a difficult endeavour, given the many challenges facing young people today, including unemployment, family issues, education, environmental concerns, and the risks associated with new technologies, all of which have led to a troubling rise in youth violence and suicides among young people
To address these issues Pope Francis once again reiterated his call for an educational alliance “among those willing to place the human person at the center while investing fresh energy in forming those who will serve the community.”
“We need an ‘education village’ where, in diversity, we share the commitment to generate a network of open and human relationships,” he said.
Be Witnesses Of The Beauty And Novelty Of Life
The Pope went on to encourage young people to be "witnesses of the beauty and novelty of life" that lies in love, selfless service, and fostering social solidarity: “Discovering, showing, and highlighting this beauty means laying the foundations for social solidarity and a culture of encounter,“ he said
“Your selfless service for truth and freedom, for justice and peace, for the family and politics, is the most beautiful and a necessary contribution you can offer to institutions for building a new society.”
Care For Children And For The Elderly
He again invited young people to engage with both children and the elderly, promoting tenderness and care for these groups often overlooked in modern society where "children are left to grow up on their own without tenderness, and the elderly are sent to nursing homes to die there."
“We must change: play with children, and show affection to the elderly. This will make your youth fruitful.”
Finally, Pope Francis reminded those present that the fundamental reason for hope is the truth of God’s love for each one of us and the life-giving encounter with Jesus. It is “encountering a Person,” rather than “an ethical decision or a lofty idea,” that opens up “a new horizon” of Christian life, the Pope explained."
“Evil, pessimism, skepticism will not have the last word”
Do Not Fear
Based on this certainty, Pope Francis urged young people “not to fear” in the face of the challenges and difficulties they may encounter in life. “Do not be afraid to face even conflicts,” he said, because “conflicts help us grow”, and can be overcome with the help of others and from above, by listening to the others and going beyond our personal interests.
“Trying to overcome conflicts is a sign that we have aimed higher, beyond our particular interests, to get out of the quicksand of social hostility.”
Pope: Female voices have much to contribute to building the 'Common Good' Pope Francis writes to participants in the Pontifical Academy for Life's dialogue on "Common Good: Theory and Practice," noting that the common good is a cornerstone of Catholic social teaching, and as such, life issues must always be kept at heart. By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"It is of great importance to recall the common good, one of the cornerstones of the Church’s social teaching."
Pope Francis stressed this in his letter to an event - a "Dialogue on Common Good: Theory and Practice" - organized by the Pontifical Academy for Life and taking place on 14 November in the Vatican
This dialogue first featured the reading of the Pope's message by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of Academy, and is being followed by the dialogue between Professor Mariana Mazzucato of Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College in London, who serves as member of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Life and Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados.
The dialogue is considering how a new economics of the common good can help create urgent well-designed action for our economic and social problems, related to health, the environment, including biodiversity, climate and water, and the future of artificial intelligence.
Earlier in the day, the Holy Father received Prime Minister Mottley in the Vatican.
Encouragement To Promote The Common Good
In his letter, the Pope warmly greeted the participants, noting that within the wide range of reflections on the theme of the common good, this meeting he sees as being particularly significant for at least two reasons.
The first, he said, is that it is promoted by the Pontifical Academy for Life.
"If we truly wish to safeguard human life in every context and situation," he appealed, "we cannot ignore placing the themes of life, even those more classical in bioethical debates, within the social and cultural contexts in which these phenomena occur."
"A defence of life that is limited to only certain aspects or moments, and that does not integrally consider all existential, social, and cultural dimensions," Pope Francis warned, "risks being ineffective and may fall into the temptation of an ideological approach, where abstract principles are defended more than real people."
Fossil Fuel Divestment As An Act Of Faith And Justice
27 religious institutions announce their decision to divest from fossil fuel companies, sending a clear and bold message to the leaders and negotiators gathered at COP29 in Baku. By Guadalupe Garcia, Laudato Si´ Movement
Against the background of the UN climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, 27 religious institutions are calling for an end to the fossil fuel era. Among them, the dioceses of Nantes in France and the diocese of Porto-Santa Rufina in Italy have joined forces and their bishops describe what it has meant for them.
This decision constitutes much more than an economic policy: it is an act of faith and a commitment to consistency with Christian values. In the words of those behind this decision compassion and a sense of responsibility towards “the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor”.
The Voice Of The Diocese of Nantes
Laurent Percerou, Bishop of Nantes, has a clear vision in this decision: to unite faith with social and environmental responsibility. “Our diocese is very aware of the cry of the Earth and the poor.” The prelate, together with those in charge of Integral Ecology, Pénélope and Jean-Baptiste Aubourg, mentioned that their commitment is to carry out the initiative within five years. This decision is also an invitation for each person to examine his or her own finances and consider how they can influence the common good.
“With this action, we wish to be consistent with our faith, as well as to invite the faithful to consider their finances, since this is part of the conversion journey for all of us,” they state. This call is profound: to recognize that every decision, even financial, has an ethical and spiritual dimension.
Porto-Santa Rufina: A Gesture Of Love And Care
In Italy, the Diocese of Porto-Santa Rufina, led by Bishop Gianrico Ruzza, has joined the divestment campaign with the purpose of “witnessing the care of creation with a concrete gesture”. For Bishop Ruzza, this decision is an extension of God's love for his creation: “The work of the Creator shines forth the beauty of the Word of God, the Word that in Jesus Christ revealed the face of the good Father,” he reflected.
Divestment is not just an economic action, but an act of love and gratitude for the natural world that God has placed in our hands: “The Gospel calls us to be agents of peace and justice,” he says, and this gesture is a proclamation of hope and a declaration of faith in the Resurrection, an act that speaks of regeneration, change and the possibility of a sustainable future.
Pope to Artisans: 'You are collaborators in God's creative work'
Pope Francis meets with members of Italy's National Confederation of Artisans and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (CNA), and tells them that artisanship is close to his heart and that in their commitment, they collaborate in God's creative work. By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"You are collaborators in God's creative work," Pope Francis told members of Italy's National Confederation of Craft Trades and Small—and Medium-sized Enterprises (CNA) in the Vatican on Friday.
Receiving them on the occasion of their Annual Assembly, the Holy Father began by noting that artisanship is "very dear" to him because "it beautifully expresses the value of human labor."
Artisanship, the Pope insisted, is "a tribute to creativity," stressing the unique ability of artisans "to discern a unique form in inert matter that others cannot recognize."
"This," the Holy Father marveled, "makes you collaborators in God’s work of creation," as he stressed, "We need your talents to restore meaning to human activity and to dedicate it to projects that promote the common good."
The Pope went on to remind them that what counts is not the quantity but the effort, and especially "the commitment to make the most of the gifts received."
In this spirit, he urged them to let their trust in God empower them and their work. Noting how the Lord "involves us in His treasures," and "counts on us" and "on our responsibility," the Pope said, "to grow in life, one must overcome fear and embrace trust."
We Are Called To A Vision Of Faith
"Sometimes," the Pope acknowledged, "especially when difficulties increase, we are tempted to think that the Lord is more of an unrelenting referee or overseer than someone who encourages us to take control of our lives."
Celebrating Black Catholic History Month – November 2024
November is a significant month for honoring the contributions and heritage of Black Catholics in the United States. The observance was designated as Black Catholic History Month by the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus on July 24, 1990. In November, we celebrate the feasts of All Saints and All Souls in loving remembrance, it is the birth month of St. Augustine, and when we celebrate the feast of St. Martin de Porres, the first Black saint of the Americas. The focus providesan opportunity for reflection, learning, and celebration, as parishes and ministries are encouraged to incorporate the lessons and legacy of Black Catholics into their spiritual life, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation within the community.
Ways to Celebrate
It’s a time for unity, learning, and honoring the diverse tapestry of faith within the Church. Parishes and ministries can use this month to explore the rich traditions, struggles, and achievements of Black Catholics. This can be done through educational programs, special liturgies, and community activities that foster understanding and appreciation. Engage your parish’s intercultural committee or others to plan and participate. Please contact Karen Fowler of the Office of Cultural Diversity and Outreach at fowlerk@adw.org for assistance with liturgical resources.
A Place at the Table – Documentary Film Screening
Parishes and ministries are invited to host a screening of the documentary film, A Place at the Table, which tells the story of the lives of the first six Black Americans on the path to Catholic sainthood. Learn more about these outstanding men and women and hear of their lives of faith. We can make a difference by sharing their stories, contributions, and impact on so many people's lives. Please click here for additional information and to schedule a date for a screening: https://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2...
