“Too often, the poor and the vulnerable are on the peripheries of our churches. In Lourdes, they are at the heart of the Church especially this year where the theme of the sanctuary is “Happy are the poor!” This theme also responds prophetically to the message that Pope Francis has chosen for this year’s 3rd World Day of the Poor “the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever “! a fact which is very much welcomed by the organising team of the pilgrimage to Lourdes Fratello.
“At the end of the Jubilee of Mercy, I wanted to offer the Church the World Day of the Poor, a concrete sign of Christ love for those who are most in need. To all the other World Days instituted by my Predecessors, I am adding this one.”
Excerpt from Pope Francis’ message for the first World Day of the Poor (19th November 2017).
The Pope’s message
1 av. Monseigneur Théas
