In solidarity with the poor

The pope’s message emphasises God’s closeness to the poor, drawn from Psalm 14, the Christian duty to ensure the poor are seen, heard, and defended and the growing global injustice rooted in corruption and loss of transcendence.

Bishop Tim Harris, chair of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service, said World Day of the Poor would give “Christians an opportunity to draw closer to Christ by encountering those who live in poverty in the community”.

“The pope’s message calls for a change in our attitude to the poor,” Bishop Harris said. “We who encounter Christ in the Eucharist cannot be indifferent to the plight of those who are poor; we must seek to become a refuge for the poor.

“We become a refuge for the poor when we leave our comfort zones and spend time with the poor, listen to their experiences and their feelings and become their companions. We are called to be signs of God’s love in the community.

“That means much more than offering a gift of money or goods and walking on by. It means walking side-by-side with the poor and challenging the injustices in society which cause their poverty.”

Bishop Harris cited a recent report on increasing hunger in Australia as an example of the cost-of-living crisis in Australia.

Foodbank Australia’s Hunger Report 2026 states the number of Australians going without food has increased by 100,000 in the past year. The report says more than three million Australians face food insecurity.

Continual interest rates increases, more expensive food and rising utility costs have driven the surge in food insecurity.

Read the pope’s full message here: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/messages/poor/documents/20260613-messaggio-giornata-poveri.html

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