Poor

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Pope Leo XIV shares lunch with people in need at the Vatican on Nov. 16, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV shares lunch with more than 1,300 people in need at the Vatican

Nov 16, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

Pope Leo XIV had lunch on Sunday with more than 1,300 people experiencing poverty and social exclusion, gathering with them... Read more

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Nov. 16, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV: Where the world sees threats, the Church sees children

Nov 16, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

Celebrating Mass for the Jubilee of the Poor on the ninth World Day of the Poor, Pope Leo XIV urged... Read more

The new statue by Timothy P. Schmalz titled “Be Welcoming” is displayed in St. Peter’s Square, Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Vatican unveils new Timothy Schmalz statue ‘Be Welcoming’ in St. Peter’s Square

Apr 15, 2025

By Kristina Millare

The statute depicts a man seated on a bench “who appears to be a homeless person” carrying only two possessions:... Read more

Pope Francis gives his Angelus address on Dec. 24, 2023.

Pope Francis: Do not confuse Christmas with consumerism

Dec 24, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope asked people to think of which lonely or needy people could be comforted by their friendship during the... Read more

Waiters bring lunch to Pope Francis and those seated at his table on the World Day of the Poor on Nov. 19, 2023. The lunch was offered by Hilton Hotels and organized by the Vatican's charity office and the Sant'Egidio community.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis shares Vatican lunch with poor

Nov 20, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis had lunch with about 1,200 poor, refugees, and homeless from around Rome on Sunday to mark the Church’s... Read more

Rony Roller Circus.

Vatican invites Rome poor to a day at the circus

Feb 11, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican’s charity office has invited around 2,000 poor and marginalized people to a circus performance in Rome on Saturday. Read more

Pope Francis meets with deacons and their families at the Vatican on June 19, 2021.

Pope Francis: The humble service of a deacon tells of the greatness of God

Jun 19, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis met with deacons and their families at the Vatican and encouraged them to help their parishes to recognize... Read more

Pope Francis with the volunteers helping vaccinate people in need at the Vatican April 2, 2021.

Pope Francis visits Vatican vaccination center

Apr 2, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis on the morning of Good Friday visited the auditorium where the Vatican is vaccinating 1,200 people in need... Read more

Pope Francis in the Vatican's apostolic library Nov. 11, 2020.

Pope Francis encourages young economists to learn from the poor

Nov 21, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a video message Saturday, Pope Francis encouraged young economists and entrepreneurs from around the world to bring Jesus to... Read more

Pope Francis offers Mass in Casa Santa Marta on March 12, 2020.

Pope Francis: Do not forget the poor during the coronavirus pandemic

Mar 12, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The suffering of the poor cannot be ignored during the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis said Thursday in his televised morning... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran Nov. 9, 2019.

Pope urges Catholics to meet the poor and speak to them with love

Nov 9, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Go out to meet the poor, listen to them, and speak to them with the heart of Jesus, Pope Francis... Read more

Pope Francis venerates the Child Jesus during Vespers Dec. 31, 2017.

Pope: Remember the poor and homeless this New Year's

Dec 31, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

As the year ends, remember the many men and women who are living in inhumane conditions or who are suffering... Read more

Pope Francis makes the Sign of the Cross April 18, 2018.

Pope Francis: Faith is measured by one's treatment of the poor

Jul 29, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

The love with which individuals and communities treat the poor, the weak, and the hungry, is the best measure of... Read more

Pope Francis eats lunch with the poor during a 2015 visit to Florence and Prato.

Take care of those on the peripheries, Pope Francis tells mayors

Sep 30, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis on Saturday told mayors that they must go to those on the margins of their communities in order... Read more

Pope Francis at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square June 17, 2015.

Pope: Be more than a mannequin when it comes to helping refugees

Feb 4, 2017

By Elise Harris

In his newest prayer video Pope Francis focused on the poor and refugees, saying we shouldn’t be like immobile mannequin’s... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday General Audience May 21, 2014.

'To ignore the poor is to despise God,' Pope Francis says

May 18, 2016

By Elise Harris

If we don’t show mercy to others we shouldn’t expect to get it from God, Pope Francis said, stressing that... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass with new cardinals Feb. 15, 2015.

Take the red hat, but leave your 'spiritual box' behind, Pope tells cardinals

Feb 15, 2015

By Elise Harris

After elevating 20 new cardinals, Pope Francis reminded them that true honor is found in service, and urged them to... Read more

Pope Francis visits Saint Michael the Archangel parish on the outskirts of Rome on Feb. 8, 2015.

Parish dedicated to Rome's poor gets a visit from Pope Francis

Pope Francis traveled in the eastern outskirts of Rome on Sunday afternoon to hear confessions and say Mass at a... Read more

Construction begins on new showers inside the public restrooms just off the Vatican's St. Peter's Square, Nov. 17, 2014.

Coming soon to the Vatican: haircuts for Rome's homeless

Jan 30, 2015

The Vatican’s continued efforts to help the homeless of Rome have expanded beyond showers and bathrooms at St. Peter’s Square,... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on Nov. 27, 2013

'I need the people of God to sustain me,' Pope says in interview

Mar 15, 2014

By Elise Harris

During a recent radio interview given to a station in a slum of Argentina, Pope Francis explained his frequent request... Read more