The 5th Annual World Day of the Poor took place this month, calling attention to people living in poverty across the world, under the theme, “The Poor will Always Be With You”.

In his message for the day, Pope Francis said,

A different approach to poverty is required. This is a challenge that governments and world institutions need to take up with a farsighted social model capable of countering the new forms of poverty that are now sweeping the world and will decisively affect coming decades. If the poor are marginalized, as if they were to blame for their condition, then the very concept of democracy is jeopardized and every social policy will prove bankrupt.
With great humility, we should confess that we are often incompetent when it comes to the poor. We talk about them in the abstract; we stop at statistics and we think we can move people’s hearts by filming a documentary. Poverty, on the contrary, should motivate us to creative planning, aimed at increasing the freedom needed to live a life of fulfilment according to the abilities of each person.

A Prayer for World Day of the Poor

God of the Poor,

you hear and stand with all who suffer.

Be with us as we seek justice and mercy for the poor in our world today.

Move us to see, hear, and respond to the suffering poor in our midst.

Disturb and challenge us to take prophetic action with and for all who are afflicted. Mould us to move closer and listen deeply to those who need our help and protection. Empower us to speak out with courage against harm and degradation.

Guide us to build just communities of inclusion and acceptance.

Teach us to walk in your ways so that all can share in your abundance. Open us to welcome your grace in the faces of people living at the margins. Send us where we need to go to meet you.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord,

Amen.

Source: The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace.