杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

In a released on Thursday for the 2^nd World Day of the Poor, celebrated this year on 18 November, 杏MAP导航 Francis said we live in a world 鈥渨hich praises, follows and imitates those who have power and riches, while at the same time marginalizing the poor and considering them an object of shame.鈥�

The cry of the poor

The theme chosen for this year鈥檚 message is 鈥淭his poor man cried and the Lord heard him鈥�. It comes on the heels of the 1^st World Day of the Poor which was established by 杏MAP导航 Francis at the conclusion of the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy and fixed for the 33^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time.

Pointing out that the World Day of the Poor 鈥渨ishes to be a small answer which the whole Church, spread throughout the world, gives to the poor of every type and in every land, the 杏MAP导航 pointed out that 鈥渙ften it is the case that cooperation with other enterprises, moved not by faith but by human solidarity, enable us to give assistance which by ourselves would have been impossible.

Christians to keep in mind their proper role

He said that by recognizing that in the immense world of poverty our capacity for action is limited, we are pushed to recognize other forms of assistance and solidarity 鈥渁lbeit that we do not neglect our proper role which is to lead everyone to God and holiness鈥�.    

He also spoke of the need to be humble and put aside all forms of protagonism:  鈥淒ialogue among the different forms of experience and humility in giving freely of our collaboration, without seeking the limelight, is an adequate and fully evangelical response which we can all give鈥�.

Causes of contemporary poverty

In his message, the 杏MAP导航 also examined the roots of poverty saying it is not brought on by itself, 鈥渂ut is caused by selfishness, pride, greed and injustice鈥�.

鈥淭hese are evils, he said, as old as man himself, but also sins in which the innocents are caught up, leading to consequences on the social level which are dramatic鈥�.

He also remarked on what he called a contemporary 鈥減hobia鈥� for the poor who are considered not only as destitute, but also as 鈥渂earers of insecurity and instability, detached from the habits of daily life and, consequently, to be rejected and kept afar鈥�.

On the other hand, Francis continued, 鈥渨hen we find a way to draw near to the poor, we know that the first place belongs to Him who has opened our eyes and our heart to conversion鈥�.

The poor, he stressed, have no need of protagonists, 鈥渂ut of a love which knows how to hide and forget the good which it has done.鈥�

The Lord, the 杏MAP导航 affirmed, 鈥渓istens to the poor鈥�, He listens to those 鈥渨ho are downtrodden in their dignity and yet have the strength to look up in order to receive light and comfort. He listens to those who are persecuted in the name of a false justice, oppressed by policies unworthy of the name and intimidated by violence.鈥�

He commented on how so many of our brothers and sisters today find themselves on paths that lead to forms of precariousness: 鈥淭he lack of basic means of subsistence, marginalization stemming from a reduced capacity to work owing to ill-heath, the various forms of social slavery, notwithstanding the progress made by humankind鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 said that the Disciples of Christ are exhorted never to nourish 鈥渟entiments of contempt or pietism鈥� towards the poor, but they are called 鈥渢o honour them, giving them precedence, out of the conviction that they are a real presence of Jesus in our midst鈥�.

The cry of the poor is also a cry of hope

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his message pointing out that often it is the poor themselves who undermine our indifference and said that 鈥渢he cry of the poor is also a cry of hope which manifests the certainty of being liberated鈥�.