Fight against exclusion of the poor, Pope urges Caritas International

November 17, 2016

Pope Francis exhorted charitable workers “to have prophetic courage, to refuse all that which humiliates man,” in prepared remarks to representatives of Caritas International, with whom he met in a private audience on November 17.

The Pope set aside his prepared text to speak extemporaneously with the leaders of charitable agencies, and to answer a few questions. In his written text, he emphasized the importance of the Church’s preference for the poor, and said:

Therefore we are called to act against the social exclusion of the weakest and to work for their integration. Our societies, indeed, are often dominated by the throwaway culture; they need to overcome indifference and self-centredness in order to learn the art of solidarity. “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

 

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Further information:

• The Pope’s address to the Representative Council of Caritas Internationalis (Vatican press office)
• Pope to Caritas: reject whatever humiliates and exploits humans (Vatican Radio)