On Sunday, November 19, 2023, the Catholic Church will observe the seventh edition of the World Day of the Poor. The Dicastery for Evangelization has disclosed a slate of events and initiatives to mark this solemn occasion.
Pope Francis is scheduled to lead the Eucharistic Celebration at St. Peter’s Basilica, commencing at 10 a.m. Those who wish to participate in the Holy Mass must fill out a ticket reservation form available on the Dicastery’s website, which can be accessed at the following link: http://www.evangelizatio.va/content/pcpne/it/attivita/gmdp/2023/biglietti.html.
This year’s motif, inspired by the Book of Tobit, “Do not turn your face away from the poor” (Tb 4:7), was appropriately announced on the feast day of Saint Anthony of Padua last June 13.
In keeping with tradition, the message for the day is coupled with a supportive guide, translated into six languages. It is disseminated amongst the faithful with the aim, as His Excellency Monsignor Rino Fisichella articulates, “to continually provoke our communities into being vigilant and hospitable to those facing the gravest needs and hardships.”
The 2023 World Day of the Poor is set to witness an enhanced role of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity. The Holy Father has endorsed the request to have the Dicastery manage the array of charitable acts within the Diocese of Rome, including organizing a meal with people experiencing poverty. This luncheon, a tradition upheld by Pope Francis in the Paul VI Hall following the liturgical celebration, will be sponsored by Hilton Hotels in Italy this year, as noted in the official communique.
The Dicastery for the Service of Charity, also known as the Apostolic Almoner, operates the Mother of Mercy Outpatient Clinic. This clinic, established by the will of the Holy Father adjacent to the Colonnade of St. Peter’s Square, provides year-round complimentary healthcare to those living in dire poverty.
During the week leading up to the World Day of the Poor, from November 13 to 18, this healthcare facility will extend its operational hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. “The clinic will be staffed by approximately 50 doctors, nurses, and volunteers, who will rotate duties to care for the most fragile individuals. They will administer general and specialized medical examinations, ultrasonography, blood tests, wound care, influenza vaccinations, and COVID-19 tests at no cost to the indigent and needy. Medications and necessary treatments will also be supplied. Among the specialized services offered will be cardiology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, dentistry, otolaryngology, rheumatology, general surgery, nephrology, audiology, psychiatry, vascular surgery, angiology, gastroenterology, gynecology, and podiatry,” the official statement concludes.
