Pope Francis once again dined with 1,250 people in need in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall to mark the World Day of the Poor. The menu includes cannelloni and meatballs, as well as tiramisu and petit fours from renowned Italian confectioners.
At the beginning of the dinner, the Holy Father blessed the food: “Let us pray together to the Lord to bless us. May He bless these dishes and this moment of friendship all together and accompany us in our lives.
Meeting with the Pope
But it was not just sharing a meal with the poor that was important to the Pope. Words of thanks were also addressed to those who prepared it.
“May he bless those who help much in our lives so that we can move forward,” Francis said. Before leaving, the Pope blessed and thanked everyone who helped organize and serve the lunch in a festive atmosphere, those who helped materially to make it possible, and of course all those present.
At the initiative of the Vatican Dicastery for the Ministry of Mercy and thanks to the support of the Hilton hotel chain, guests could enjoy an extensive menu: there was cannelloni filled with ricotta and spinach – typical Italian “primo” – then meatballs with tomato sauce and cauliflower puree, and as dessert tiramisu and various other dessert snacks. The meal was served by professional Hilton staff.
The Pope also addressed the audience during his farewell, greeting everyone and thanking in particular those who contributed in various ways to the success of the initiative.
World Day of the Poor
Francis introduced the World Day of the Poor in 2016, and it was first celebrated in November 2017. The same year, a tradition of a communal dinner was established, where hundreds of people in need could meet the Pope in the Paul VI Hall and some could spend moments with him.
Regardless of the World Day of the Poor, people in need can benefit every day from many other aid initiatives around the Vatican. There are not only kitchens and sleeping areas, but also a fully equipped medical center in the colonnades of Bernini, where people without regular health care can undergo check-ups and specialists in all major medical disciplines, working on a voluntary basis, are available to them free of charge.
Source: Do Rzeczy
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
