After addressing some of the world’s most powerful people – the US Congress – the leader of the 1.2 billion-strong Roman Catholic church declined the opportunity to lunch with Capitol lawmakers and instead chose to dine with the capital’s least powerful – the homeless.
Addressing about 300 clients of Catholic Charities and 60 parishioners of St. Patrick Catholic Church in downtown Washington, Francis compared the poor to St. Joseph, the father of Jesus.
“Your faces remind me of his. I can imagine Joseph, with his wife about to have a child, with no shelter, no home, no place to stay. The Son of God came into this world as a homeless person. The Son of God knew what it was to start life without a roof over his head. We can imagine what Joseph must have been thinking. How is it that the Son of God has no home?” Francis said in Spanish.
He continued, “I want to be very clear. We can’t find any social or moral justification, no justification whatsoever for lack of housing. We know that Jesus wanted to show solidarity with every person. He wanted everyone to experience his companionship, his help and his love. He identified with all those who suffer, who weep, who suffer any kind of injustice. He tells us this clearly, ‘I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me’.”
Before the meal, he asked the group to pray the Lord’s Prayer with him, in Spanish and in English. “Today I want to be one with you. I need your support, your closeness. I would like to invite you to pray together, for one another, with one another. In prayer, there are no rich and poor people; there are sons and daughters, sisters and brothers. In prayer, there is no first or second class, there is brotherhood.”
Francis is compelling the cameras to show a picture of something some might rather ignore: homelessness. http://t.co/WiatEmkwse
— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) September 25, 2015
A Sacred Mission for Pope Francis http://t.co/EpEBTeiSGd. Regardless of religion, belief, petty squabbles, what can *we* do? — Lisa Lebduska (@lisalebduska) September 26, 2015
We offered him breakfast at FBI or lunch at Pentagon. But he chose to be with these people. Very disappointing. http://t.co/VIoczmDGXN
— U.S. Dept. of Fear (@FearDept) September 25, 2015
I don’t blame #PopeFrancis for skipping lunch with #Congress to eat with the Homeless. They’re less likely to steal from him. — President Trump (@Writeintrump) September 24, 2015
I’m not Catholic, but Pope Francis is in DC today eating lunch w/ homeless people instead of politicians & that is something I appreciate.
— Emily Apgar (@Daisyletgo) September 23, 2015
Earlier at the Capitol, Francis addressed Congress on the issues of homelessness and hunger. “I would encourage you to keep in mind all those people around us who are trapped in a cycle of poverty. They, too, need to be given hope. The fight against poverty and hunger must be fought constantly and on many fronts, especially in its causes,” he said.
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