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Pope says not to judge the poor, often victims of injustice

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A clear message directed at the wealthy nations in the world, Pope Francis made a plea for citizens to not look so poorly on the impoverished of the world who he says are often times forced into poverty. The Pontiff, during his homily, made an appeal to the people of the world to not rush past the poor, and to look at them as neighbors who need our help rather than a drain on society. As reported by the AP:

Pope Francis has used his papacy to draw attention to the downtrodden and those living on society’s margins  

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis decried societies which rush indifferently past the poor, often judging them instead of helping them, as he celebrated Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica attended by 2,000 indigent people.

Pope Francis looks at his pastoral staff as he celebrates Mass on the Day of the Poor in St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

During his homily, Francis also made an appeal against what he called “growing indifference” to the poor, who, he said, are often forced into poverty by injustice.

Francis has used his papacy since 2013 to draw attention to those living on society’s margins. The Catholic Church dedicated the day to the world’s poor.

Pope Francis celebrates Mass on the Day of the Poor in St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

“We are part of a history marked by tribulation, violence, suffering and injustice, ever awaiting a liberation that never seems to arrive,” Francis said. “Those who are most wounded, oppressed and even crushed, are the poor, the weakest links in the chain.”

Pope Francis walks with his pastoral staff as he celebrates mass on the Day of the Poor in St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

He said by focusing on the poor the Church “asks us not to turn aside, not to be afraid to take a close look at the suffering of those most vulnerable.”

The pontiff lamented the “poverty into which they are often forced, victims of injustice and the inequality of a throwaway society that hurries past without seeing them and without scruple abandons them to their fate.”

Faithful gather in St. Peter’s Basilica during a mass celebrated by Pope Francis on the occasion of the Day of the Poor at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

The pontiff didn’t specifically cite the impact of climate change on the poor, who could be forced to flee their homes due to droughts and floods.

But Francis added that “unless our hope translates into decisions and concrete gestures of concern, justice, solidarity and care for our common home, the sufferings of the poor will not be relieved, the economy of waste that forces them to live on the margins will not be converted, their expectations will not blossom anew.”

Pope Francis greets faithful at the end of a Mass on the Day of the Poor in St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. Pope Francis is decrying society which “hurries past” the poor, judges them and leaves them to their fate. The pontiff on Sunday made the appeal against what he called “growing indifference” to the indigent as he celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica attended by some 2,000 poor people and charity workers who assist them. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

He encouraged people to improve the world by “breaking bread with the hungry, working for justice, lifting up the poor and restoring their dignity.”

Charity workers were among those invited to the Mass, along with those they assist.

Francis issued a plea to bring hope to the world through “tenderness to the poor, without judging them.”

By FRANCES D’EMILIO 

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