Pope Francis Shares Meal with the Poor

Throughout his pontificate, Francis has placed a strong emphasis on concrete outreach to those in need. 

He has spoken often about those at the margins of society and condemned what he has called a “throwaway culture” that neglects people it finds inconvenient or a burden.

Pope Francis during lunch on the World Day of the Poor Nov. 13, 2022. Daniel Ibáñez / CNA

At Mass on Nov. 13, the pope said: “We should always repeat this to ourselves, especially at times of greatest trouble: God is a Father, and he is at my side. He knows and loves me; he does not sleep, but watches over me and cares for me. If I stay close to him, not a hair of my head will perish.”

“And how do I respond to this?” he added. “By looking at our brothers and sisters in need; by looking at the throwaway culture that discards the poor and people with few possibilities; a culture that discards the old and unborn … by looking at all of them; as a Christian, what should I do in this moment?”

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Pope Francis during lunch on the World Day of the Poor Nov. 13, 2022. Daniel Ibáñez / CNA

Pope Francis has also shared meals with the poor during visits to Assisi and Bologna, Italy.

After the canonization of St. Teresa of Calcutta on Sept. 4, 2016, the pope offered a pizza lunch to 1,500 poor cared for by the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa’s order.

Pope Francis during lunch on the World Day of the Poor Nov. 13, 2022. Daniel Ibáñez / CNA

Hannah Brockhaus is Catholic News Agency's senior Rome correspondent. She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and has a degree in English from Truman State University in Missouri.