World Day of the Poor: Pope Francis organises lunch with 1300 poor people

By Francesca Merlo

Lunch with some of Rome’s poor has become a tradition for Pope Francis as he, along with the global Church, celebrates World Day of the Poor.

This year will mark the eighth edition, since the Pope established this day in 2017, and it will be no different from the previous one, as more than 1,300 poor people are expected to join Pope Francis for lunch.

A project of help and hope

Falling on the third Sunday of November, this year the day will be celebrated on the 17th and will officially begin with Holy Mass, presided over by Pope Francis, in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis presides at Mass for World Day of the Poor, November 2023

However, shortly before the Eucharistic celebration, the Pope will have blessed 13 keys, each symbolically representing thirteen countries where the Vicentians will inaugurate their “13 Houses” project. The project involves building new housing for disadvantaged people in thirteen different countries. There, various charitable initiatives will take place, such as covering utility bills for low-income families through parish connections. One country welcoming the new project is Syria, which has been forgotten by much of the Western media as it continues to suffer the devastating effects of nearly two decades of conflict.

Why should politics cause poverty?

In his message for the 2024 World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis stressed that the “bad policies” caused by war are generating new poverty and innocent victims. He urged everyone to pray with and for the poor, and stressed that volunteers continue to dedicate themselves to serving the poorest in our cities, embodying God’s response to the cries of those in need.

The quest for justice

This year in particular, the motto chosen by the Pope is taken from the book of Sirach: “The prayer of the poor rises to God” (Sirach 21, 5). This motto emphasizes that the poor occupy a special place in the heart of God. He hears their prayers and becomes “eager” in their suffering until justice is done. The Book of Sirach confirms that “the judgment of God will be in favor of the poor” (21:5).

World Day of the Poor encourages the Church to “step outside” its walls and engage in the fight against poverty in its many forms in today’s world. And with this lunch, that is precisely what Pope Francis will do.

Aerial view of some of the tables set for Pope Francis’ lunch with the poor in Rome, World Day of the Poor, November 2022

Free tickets for the mass on November 17 will be available from November 13 at the Official Jubilee Information Point, Via della Conciliazione, 7.