Pope Francis Urges Social Movements to Continue Fighting for the Poor
Pope Francis, 2024. X/ @jaohin
September 20, 2024 Hour: 7:47 am
‘As long as the problems of the poor are not resolved, the world’s problems will not be resolved,’ he said.
On Friday, Pope Francis invited social movements and organizations to continue fighting to change the reality of the most vulnerable people during his speech at the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the first World Meeting of Popular Movements (WMPM).
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“As long as the problems of the poor are not resolved, the world’s problems will not be resolved,” he said, adding that things will not change unless popular movements keep fighting.
The leader of the Catholic Church condemned the current economic system, which favors the interests of the richest people over the needs of the poor, emphasizing that wealth is poorly distributed.
This week, representatives of popular movements from around the world gathered at the Vatican to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the first World Meeting of Popular Movements. Under the motto “Raising the flag against dehumanization,” the event will include a symposium with historical figures from social movements such as Juan Grabois (Argentina), Xaro Castello (Spain), and Joao Pedro Stedile (Brazil).
The participation of Catholic Church figures linked to popular movements is also expected, including the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Cardinal Michael Czerny, and Cardinal Peter Turkson.
The World Meeting of Popular Movements aims to engage in dialogue and reflect on the path traveled since the 2014 gathering to address current challenges in favor of “social justice and peace in our common home.” It is a space for uniting social organizations from all five continents and a platform that promotes a culture of encounter in favor of the 3 L’s (land, labor, and lodging).
The first meeting was a milestone that united the voices of the Church and popular movements under the slogan: “No family without a home, no farmer without land, no worker without rights, no person without the dignity that work provides.”
teleSUR/ JF Sources: Vatican News