Vatican City, Oct 16, 2005 / 22:00 pm
After praying the weekly Angelus prayer yesterday, at which he recalled the memory and papal anniversary of his successor John Paul II, Pope Benedict challenged the world to fight with greater energy and solidarity against the scourge of poverty “so that no one”, he said, “is excluded from society.
The Pope’s remarks came on the eve of the World Day for the Eradication of Poverty, established by Fr. Joseph Wresinski, founder of the movement "ATD, Aide a Toute Détresse - Quart Monde", and being celebrated today.
"Poverty”, the Pope said, “is a plague against which humanity must fight without cease…We are called to ever greater solidarity to ensure that no one remains excluded from society."
Pope Benedict assured listeners that his prayers were with "the poor who fight courageously to live with dignity, caring for their families and the needs of their fellows."