MANILA (UCAN): “It is sad how the poor are usually buried … When we have international guests, one thing that governments do is hide the poor for they are a cause of shame and embarrassment,” Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle of the Philippines said during his homily as he celebrated Mass on November 15, the 4th World Day of the Poor, in Rome.
The prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples noted that authorities around the world have a tendency to hide the poor so that foreign visitors do not see them during state visits.
This year’s theme for World Day of the Poor—Stretch forth your hand to the poor—is based on the Parable of the Talents.
Cardinal Tagle reminded Filipinos of Pope Francis’ words when he celebrated Mass at Manila Cathedral in 2015: “Jesus’ preferential love for the poor … The poor are the centre of the gospel. They are at the heart of the gospel. If we take away the poor from the gospel, we can’t understand the whole message of Jesus Christ.”
Preferential love for the poor is central to Christianity as Jesus was poor, said the cardinal.
Meanwhile Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the apostolic administrator of Manila, in his World Day of the Poor message urged churchgoers not to donate what is “spare” or extra from their resources, but to be sincere and not self-serving in helping the poor.
