November 16, 2025
Theme: “You, Lord, are my hope” (Psalm 71:5)
Today, on this Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Church throughout the world celebrates the Ninth World Day of the Poor, established by Pope Francis in 2017 and now continued under Pope Leo XIV. This day invites us to pause, reflect, and renew our commitment to walking with the poor—not simply as those who receive our charity, but as brothers and sisters who reveal to us the Gospel in its purest form.
The theme chosen for this year, “You, Lord, are my hope” (Psalm 71:5), reminds us that true hope is not rooted in material wealth or social status but in God alone. For the poor, those who live without security or earthly power, hope in God is not a concept, but a daily reality, a lifeline, and often their greatest treasure. Pope Leo XIV emphasizes that the poor teach the world what authentic hope looks like, because “they cannot place their hope in possessions or worldly strength; their hope is God, who never fails.”
HISTORY AND PURPOSE OF THE WORLD DAY OF THE POOR
The World Day of the Poor was instituted by Pope Francis at the conclusion of the Jubilee Year of Mercy in 2016. His intention was to ensure that the Church never grows distant from those whose lives bear the weight of suffering, exclusion, hunger, and injustice. Since then, it has been celebrated every year on the penultimate Sunday of the liturgical year, as a reminder that the Gospel cannot be lived authentically without closeness to the poor. This day serves as a call to examine our lives, renew our commitment to solidarity, and address the root causes of poverty, both spiritual and material.
THE MESSAGE OF POPE LEO XIV FOR THE 2025 WORLD DAY OF THE POOR
In his message for this year titled “You, Lord, are my hope”, Pope Leo XIV speaks directly to the hearts of the world’s poor, assuring them that God has not forgotten them. He also addresses the global Church, reminding all Christians that the poor are not objects of pity but protagonists of hope who reveal God’s nearness.
“The gravest form of poverty is not to know God.” — Pope Leo XIV
“Helping the poor is a matter of justice before a question of charity.”
“The worst discrimination which the poor suffer is the lack of spiritual care.”
These words frame the heart of his message: the poor must not only be supported materially but spiritually, recognizing that every human person hungers for God’s love.
Key points from the Holy Father’s message:
1. Hope is found in God alone: Christian hope is not optimism or wishful thinking; it is rooted in the fidelity of God. Pope Leo XIV insists that true hope often begins in moments of need, and it is the poor who witness this most clearly.
2. The poor as witnesses of faith: The Holy Father calls the poor “teachers of hope,” whose lives proclaim that God is present even in hardship. Their endurance, their prayer, and their trust in God are testimonies that challenge the entire Church.
3. Poverty as a Gospel call: This day urges all Christians to draw close to the poor, not with temporary assistance alone, but with genuine friendship, community, and advocacy for justice.
Pope Leo XIV emphasizes that confronting poverty is not only an act of charity but an act of justice.
4. Justice and the dignity of the human person: He warns against structures and systems that deepen inequality. The Church is called to work not only for relief but for transformation, policies and actions that defend the dignity of every person.
5. Pilgrimage and encounter: This year, families supported by the Famvin Homeless Alliance’s “13 Houses Project” are on pilgrimage to Rome. On November 16, they meet the Holy Father and will receive blessed keys, symbols of stability, dignity, and hope.
The Pope reminds us that the prayer of the poor reaches the heart of God and that their suffering cannot leave the Church indifferent.
GLOBAL INITIATIVES FOR THIS YEAR’S CELEBRATION
Communities around the world are celebrating this day with concrete acts of solidarity:
- In Kraków, large outreach initiatives are offering beautician services, workshops, and accompaniment for women in need.
- In Poznań, the “help bus” travels through the city distributing warm meals, clothing, medical care, and warm conversations.
- In various dioceses worldwide, parishes host prayer campaigns, conversations with the homeless, food drives, and collections for families facing hardship.
- Many religious communities are opening their chapels for extended adoration, dedicating this day to intercession for the suffering.
These actions reflect the Holy Father’s invitation to be “friends of the poor,” not only offering assistance but sharing in their journey, listening to their stories, and learning from their faith.
SPIRITUAL REFLECTION
On this Ninth World Day of the Poor, we are reminded that the Gospel is always lived most authentically when we draw close to those who suffer. The poor are not on the margins of the Church, they are at its heart. Their lives reveal the vulnerability of Christ Himself, who became poor so that we might become rich in grace. We are invited to examine the ways we, individually and as communities, can become signs of hope.
Hope grows when:
- we choose compassion over indifference,
- solidarity over isolation,
- justice over convenience,
- generosity over fear.
Just as Christ walked among the poor, so too are we called to walk with them. Not ahead of them. Not behind them. But with them recognizing Christ in their faces and hearing His voice in their cries.
PRAYER FOR THE NINTH WORLD DAY OF THE POOR
Inspired by the message of Pope Leo XIV
O God of hope and mercy, You are the refuge of the poor and the strength of all who call upon You. Look with compassion upon Your children who suffer from hunger, homelessness, and injustice. Teach us to recognize in them the face of Your Son, who became poor to enrich us with His love.
Lord Jesus, You walked among the lowly and lifted up the forgotten. Help us to be true friends of the poor, standing beside them with humility, tenderness, and courage. Make our hearts open to their needs and our hands willing to serve.
Holy Spirit, Inspire in us a passion for justice and a commitment to mercy. Strengthen us to confront the structures that wound human dignity and to build a world where every person can live in hope.
O Blessed Mary, Mother of the Poor, you who trusted God in all things, intercede for those who have no one to defend them. May your gentle presence guide us toward a more compassionate world.
God of all hope, “You, Lord, are our hope” today and always. Let our prayer rise before You and let our lives become instruments of Your love. Amen. 🙏🏾
NINTH WORLD DAY OF THE POOR | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/ninth-world-day-of-the-poor/
DAILY REFLECTIONS WITH PHILOMENA | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/