Between 6,000 and 7,000 poor people attended the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica as special guests, the Vatican said.
‘Invest in love,’ pope says on first World Day of the Poor
U.S. seminary in Rome to host World Day of Poor lunch guests
About 4,000 poor people are expected to join the pope for Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica followed by lunch Nov. 19, which Pope Francis had designated as the World Day of the Poor.
Mass and lunch: Pope to lead celebration of World Day of the Poor
Pope Francis will celebrate the Catholic Church’s first World Day of the Poor Nov. 19 by celebrating a morning Mass with people in need and those who assist them. After Mass, he will offer lunch to 500 people in the Vatican audience hall.
Poverty requires action, not empty words, pope says
The World Day of the Poor — to be marked each year on the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary time — will be celebrated Nov. 19 this year and will focus on the Apostle John’s call to love “not with words, but with deeds.” The pope is asking local churches to dedicate the week preceding the World Day of the Poor to creative initiatives fostering encounter, friendship, solidarity and concrete assistance.
Pope extends special Year of Mercy provisions on confession
Acknowledging and sharing God’s mercy is a permanent part of the Christian life, so initiatives undertaken during the special Year of Mercy must continue, Pope Francis said.