The Nineth World Day of the Poor, 16 November 2025
Pope Leo XIV roots his message in Scripture, referencing Exodus 3:7-8, which emphasizes that God hears the suffering of the oppressed. He affirms that poverty has not one, but “many faces”: material deprivation, social exclusion, cultural poverty, vulnerability, and the absence of rights.
In frank fashion, the Holy Father decries a world where a wealthy elite lives in a “bubble of comfort and luxury,” while others perish from hunger or neglect. In India, recently, we witnessed such a display at a wedding of a prominent industrialist’s son. The absurd display of wealth was nothing short of a cruel joke in a country with so much economic disparity.
The chosen theme for this year is taken from Psalm 71:5: “You are my hope.”
This reminds us that true hope is not wishful thinking, but trust in God that becomes visible through compassion and solidarity. It is the kind of hope that grows when we share our lives with those who struggle—the sick, the lonely, the homeless, the unemployed, and the elderly who often live forgotten.
The Poor as Our Teachers of Faith:
The poor are not merely recipients of our charity; they are our teachers. They show us how to trust in God even when life offers little security. Each one of us will know someone who gives more than they get to the church. And usually, this someone is not a rich, wealthy person; a reminder that sometimes, those with empty hands hold the deepest faith.
What We Can Do as Individuals:
In Goa, there are many ways we can bring the spirit of this day to life.
Support the local chapter of St. Vincent de Paul Society—through donations in cash or kind, or by volunteering your time in parish-level outreach to families in need.
Contribute to the Good Samaritan initiative of the Church—these donations in cash or kind can also help those who are in need.
Reach out personally—visit a neighbor in need; reach out to kids in the neighborhood who might not be able to afford an education, with books, stationery, and if possible, even classes; offer discounted tutoring where possible.
Advocate quietly for justice—be fair in wages, kind in words, and conscious of the unseen poor around us: daily-wage workers, caregivers, and those without steady employment.
Share the spirit of simplicity—live with gratitude, avoid waste (food, clothing, and any excess material luxury, especially our over-the-top weddings), and choose generosity where you can change lives.
These may seem like small steps, but each act of compassion we offer becomes part of the Church’s living witness—the visible sign that hope has not died in our world.
Louella Santimano Dias