“He sent me to give the good news to the poor”
Luke 4:18
The poor have much to teach us.
On November 17, 2024, the Catholic Church celebrates the World Day of the Poor. Caritas Diocese of Plymouth organises an event each year to reflect on the Pope’s message and how Catholic Social Teaching (CST) calls us to respond to the cry of the Poor.
In his message, Pope Francis says that 2024 is an important year of prayer and preparation for the Jubilee in 2025. It is a moment to reflect on the theme for the Jubilee – “Pilgrims of Hope,” – and to consider what we can do at individual, parish and diocesan level to make 2025 a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of COVID-19 pandemic, and the climate crisis.
In this year, we need to make the prayer of the poor our own and pray together with them. This is a challenge we must embrace and a pastoral activity that needs to be nurtured. Pope Francis says that “the worst discrimination which the poor suffer is the lack of spiritual care.” We are called to minister to both practical and spiritual needs and to do so nurtured and led by prayer and reflection.
As we prepare for the Jubilee, Pope Francis asks us to listen to the prayer of the poor, becoming aware of their presence and needs. “It is an opportune occasion to implement initiatives that concretely help the poor and to recognize and support the many volunteers who dedicate themselves passionately to those most in need.”