Poverty

The Latest

Poverty, environment, economy – it's all about the human person, Holy See tells UN

Oct 11, 2015

Global efforts to fight poverty, protect the environment and make decisions about the economy must all be connected by the... Read more

How the Catholic Church is fighting loan sharks in Texas

Oct 8, 2015

By Mary Farrow

Lenders charging exorbitant rates on payday loans in Arlington, Texas have a new force to contend with in their fight... Read more

Over 45 million live in poverty as Pope Francis comes to visit

Sep 17, 2015

By Matt Hadro

Carolyn Smith of Dayton, Ohio was living without food or working utilities and in “in an utter, total state of... Read more

Curator Francesca Mezzano of Project 999, a street art project in Rome, Italy on April 10, 2015.

What happens when beautiful street art meets a Rome ghetto?

Apr 23, 2015

By Elise Harris, Jan Bentz

Street artists from 10 countries around the globe gathered in Rome and put their talents to use in creating an... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square before the Wednesday general audience on Oct. 29, 2014.

'This is your house' – Pope Francis meets homeless in Sistine Chapel

Mar 27, 2015

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis stopped by to visit with 150 of Rome’s homeless in the Sistine Chapel after they were invited for... Read more

Ceiling of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel on Oct. 29, 2014.

Vatican invites 150 homeless for dinner, private tour of Sistine Chapel

Mar 24, 2015

By Elise Harris

In addition to food, umbrellas, sleeping bags, showers and haircuts, the Vatican is now offering Rome’s homeless the gift of... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during his Wednesday general audience on June 18, 2014.

Rome's poor receive 1,000 pounds of food from Pope Francis

Mar 23, 2015

Pope Francis is sending half a ton of food to families suffering hardships in Rome’s Tor Bella Monaca neighborhood.  Read more

Homeless Jesus.

Would you recognize 'Homeless Jesus' on a park bench in DC?

Mar 4, 2015

By Matt Hadro

A statue of “Homeless Jesus” now sits just outside Catholic Charities in downtown Washington, D.C., with the organization’s president hoping... Read more

Homeless.

Go forth! Ministry leaders instructed to encounter God in the poor

Feb 11, 2015

By Matt Hadro

The president of the U.S. bishops’ conference exhorted a group of Catholic leaders to go forth in ministry to serve... Read more

Pilgrims wait in the rain in St. Peter's Square March 13, 2013 to see what color smoke will come out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.

Pope gives 300 umbrellas to Rome's homeless amid downpour

Feb 5, 2015

After several days of rain and dreary weather that has not yet cleared, the Vatican’s papal almoner has distributed 300... Read more

 Pope Francis addresses the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at their headquarters in Rome on Nov. 20, 2014.

Few topics are more manipulated than hunger, Pope tells UN

Nov 20, 2014

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis on Thursday condemned the excessive consumption and misuse of food, saying that often the statistics surrounding the topic... Read more

Women sell produce on the street in Vitebsk, Belarus, Oct. 27, 2014.

Poverty, divorce, alcoholism – no shortage of challenges for Church in Belarus

Nov 19, 2014

In Belarus, western Ukraine's neighbor to the north, the Church is doing its best to reach out to the people,... Read more

Soup kitchen. File photo/CNA.

Remember the 'least of these' in spending cuts, bishops tell Congress

Nov 18, 2014

By Matt Hadro

As the 113th Congress enters the “lame-duck” session before newly-elected members take office, the U.S. Bishops are urging that a... Read more

   Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on June 4, 2014.

Pope: Fighting for the poor doesn't make me Communist – it makes me Catholic

Oct 29, 2014

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis spoke out against oppression of the poor due to greed and warned again of the growing presence of... Read more

Women in Rwanda tend a community garden with techniques taught by Catholic Relief Services.

Church serves women 'the rest of the world has left behind'

Sep 7, 2014

By Adelaide Mena

Recent claims that the Catholic Church disregards women fail to acknowledge the Church’s critical work to support women and families... Read more

Screenshot from Caritas Internationalis' video for its initiative to end world hunger.

Caritas launches powerful animated short to fight global hunger

Sep 3, 2014

By Ann Schneible

Global Catholic relief agency Caritas Internationalis has launched a new video aimed at promoting awareness about the need to help... Read more

New USCCB social development director aims to fight poverty

Jun 17, 2014

The U.S. bishops have named Mark Rohlena, head of Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, to direct the Office of Domestic... Read more

Helen Alvare.

New evangelization must zero-in on poverty, lawyer says

Jun 12, 2014

By Carl Bunderson

The call of Benedict XVI and Pope Francis to connect the issues of poverty and the new evangelization has come... Read more

Bishops pray together before the start of the first session of the USCCB's Fall General Assembly in Baltimore on Nov. 11, 2013.

Bishops embrace Pope Francis, Benedict in voting document

Jun 12, 2014

By Matt Hadro

The updated voting guide issued by the U.S. bishops will maintain Church teaching as explained by both Pope Francis and... Read more

Despite improvements, still 'a long way to go' for US homeless

Jun 5, 2014

By Adelaide Mena

A new report on homelessness shows some improvements in the country's response to those who are without shelter, but also... Read more