杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

鈥淟et us pray for those people on the margins of society in subhuman living conditions, that they may not be neglected by institutions and never be cast out.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis launched that invitation on Tuesday as he released his prayer intention for September 2023, which is for 鈥減eople living on the margins鈥�.

鈥楽tiff necks, indifferent hearts鈥�

In The 杏MAP导航 Video for September, produced by the , he reflected on the indifference endured by many people who are marginalized.

鈥淎 homeless person who dies on the street will never appear among the top stories of search engines or newscasts,鈥� he lamented, wondering how our societies could have reached such a level of indifference.

杏MAP导航 Francis attributed this indifference to a 鈥渢hrowaway culture in which millions of men and women are worth nothing compared to economic goods鈥�.

He said our 鈥渘ecks are going to get stiff from looking the other way so we don鈥檛 have to see this situation.鈥�

Culture of welcoming

The 杏MAP导航 then urged everyone to pay attention to people who face marginalization, even if it results from 鈥減overty, addictions, mental illness, or disability.鈥�

鈥淟et鈥檚 focus on accepting them, on welcoming all the people who need it,鈥� he said.

In response to such indifference, he held up a 鈥渃ulture of welcoming, of providing shelter, of giving a home, of offering love, of giving human warmth.鈥�

And 杏MAP导航 Francis concluded by inviting every Christian to pray for those people 鈥渙n the margins of society living in subhuman living conditions.鈥�

Widespread poverty and hardship

A press release accompanying his prayer intention noted that The 杏MAP导航 Video for September contains images of homeless people, street children washing car windshields, and people with various disabilities.

According to the UN, over 10 percent of the global population, or 700 million people, live in extreme poverty. Another 1.6 billion people dwell in inadequate living conditions, even in developed nations.

鈥淪imilarly, reports from the World Health Organization reveal that one of every eight persons lives with a 鈥榤ental disorder,鈥� and that 16% of the world鈥檚 population lives with a 鈥榮erious disability鈥�,鈥� according to the press release.

Hearts of flesh

Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, echoed the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 prayer intention, inviting us to have hearts of flesh and not of stone.

鈥淲elcoming is more than helping: it means putting the other person at our level, rediscovering a sister or a brother we have lost,鈥� said Cardinal Czerny. 鈥淲e are transformed into one Body through prayer.鈥�