The material, cultural and spiritual poverty that exists in the world is a “scandal” to which Christians are called to respond by putting into action the capacity for charity and love that God has given them, Pope Francis said.
The poor, whether “oppressed, tired, marginalized, victims of war,” migrants, hungry, jobless or left without hope, “are not one, two or three, they are a multitude,” the pope said during his speech. a mass celebrated for the World Day of the Poor on November 19 in St. Peter’s Basilica.
“And thinking of this immense multitude of poor people, the message of the Gospel is clear: let us not bury the riches of the Lord. Let us spread charity, let us share our bread, let us multiply love,” he said. “Poverty is a scandal.”
Among the 5,000 people who filled the basilica for Mass were homeless people and others in need, seated in the front rows near Francis. After celebrating Mass and praying the Angelus, the pope had lunch in the Vatican audience hall with some 1,250 people, continuing a tradition he began on the first World Day of the Poor in 2017.
Sitting at a central table, the pope prayed that God would bless the food and “this moment of friendship, all together.” The three-course menu included pasta tubes filled with ricotta cheese, meatballs and tiramisu for dessert.
This year’s seventh edition of the World Day of the Poor took its theme from the Book of Tobit: “Turn not your face from the poor.” In the week leading up to World Day, the Vatican extended the hours and operation of a medical clinic it runs near St. Peter’s Square that is dedicated to the care of anyone in need.
In his homily at Mass, Francis said Christians “have received from the Lord the gift of his love and we are called to become a gift to others.” Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Vatican organizer of the world day, was the main celebrant at the altar.
Reflecting on today’s Gospel reading from Saint Matthew, in which Jesus tells the parable of a man who buries the money given to him by his master rather than seeking to multiply it, the pope deplored the numerous “buried Christians » who hide their gifts. and underground talents.
Mercy, compassion, joy and hope, he said, “are goods that we cannot keep only for ourselves.”
“We can multiply all that we have been given, making life an offering of love for others,” the pope said, “or we can be blocked by a false image of God and, out of fear, hide under earth the treasure that we have received, thinking only of ourselves, without being passionate about anything other than our own comfort and interests.
Francis said that just as the master of reading the Gospel returned to his servants to “settle accounts” with them, so we must prepare for the coming of Jesus at the end of time where he “settles the accounts of history and presents to us the joy of eternal life. »
“So we must ask ourselves: How will the Lord find me when I return? he said. The pope referenced the writings of St. Ambrose, who wrote that upon his return, Jesus would ask: “Why did you allow so many poor people to die of hunger when you had gold to buy them money?” food ?
The pope also called for attention to the “modesty” of poverty, emphasizing that “poverty is discreet, it hides. It’s up to us to go and look for it, with courage.”
“Let us pray that each of us, according to the gift received and the mission entrusted to us, strive to make charity bear fruit and become closer to the poor,” he said.
