Pope Francis celebrated the eighth World Day of the Poor on Sunday, November 17th. The theme for this year is “The prayer of the poor rises up to God." 

This theme comes from the Book of Sirach (21:5). Pope Francis believes this scripture isn’t well known and deserves more attention because of its rich themes. 

In his message for World Day of the Poor, the Holy Father reminds us that "the poor hold a privileged place in God’s heart." He encourages everyone to learn how to pray for the poor and to join them in prayer, approaching with humility and trust. 

Pope Francis also criticizes policies that promote war and he highlighted the example of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who dedicated her life to helping the poor. She described herself as “only a poor sister who prays.” 

The celebration in Rome includes several powerful gestures of solidarity, like a shared meal with about 1,300 guests—many of them from the streets—in the Paul VI Hall, highlighting the importance of real, concrete acts of charity. The Vatican has also organized a special concert for the poor, featuring the music of the world-famous composer Hans Zimmer, set to take place on December 7th. 

Adapted by Jacob Stein 

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