Saint Joseph Catholic Church

“My Delegation would like to emphasize that poverty is not inevitable,” said Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. “It is the result of structural causes that must be identified and addressed in order to be eliminated.”

“The key areas of action are clear and include investing in quality education, creating opportunities for decent work, and establishing comprehensive social protections systems,” he added. “However, this clarity of our solutions stands in stark contrast to the lack of political will.”

“The hope of gathering, in the heart of the Holy Year, all those throughout Italy who experience adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in parish and diocesan chapels, support the life of the Church with prayer, and accompany the mission of the Holy Father has become a reality and fills our hearts with joy,” said Father Antonio Pitetto of the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno, who coordinated the day.

Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, celebrated Mass for the jubilee participants at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

The Pontiff was particularly harsh in his words on the treatment of migrants. ““Ever more inhuman measures are being adopted—even celebrated politically—that treat these “undesirables” as if they were garbage and not human beings,” he charged.

The Pope decried “systematic arbitrariousness” in the distribution of wealth, and said that “by not having human dignity at its center, the system fails also in justice.”

In his talk the Pope spoke out against the promotion of a gaudy and expensive lifestyle, the encouragement of online gambling, and the “cult of physical wellbeing, almost an idolotry of the body, in which the mystery of pain is reduced to something totally inhuman.”

The Ecumenical Patriarch indicated that two other leading Orthodox prelates, Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria and Patriarch John of Antioch, are expected to participate in the celebration, as is Pope Leo XIV. Patriarch Bartholomew described the event as “a tangible manifestation of the unity of Eastern and Western Christianity—of the four Patriarchs of the East and the Patriarch of the West.”

Patriarch Bartolomew’s invitation could make the November 28 event the first meeting in history of what he terms the “Pentarchy of the Patriarchate”— the four Patriarchs of the most ancient Orthodox churches (Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem) together with the Bishop of Rome, historically also known as the Patriarch of the West.

Anglican Archbishop Stephen Cottrell of York, the Primate of England, presided at the midday service alongside the Roman Pontiff. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster, the president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, also particiapated, as did Archbishop Leo Cushley of Edinburgh, Scotland.

“The very fact that we are here before you today is a miracle. We were all on Russian execution lists,” Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said on October 21. “If Ukraine had been occupied, we would no longer be here—we would not be sitting in front of you now, but would be in torture chambers.”

The Major Archbishop added, “14 million people have fled their homes—that is almost three times the entire population of Norway. Almost 170,000 square kilometers were mined—that is half the territory of Norway. Four million homes were destroyed—that is almost all the homes of Norwegians.”

“Your contribution to the construction of a monument in Minago—the site of his assassination—as well as your involvement in the project to build a health center, your daily charitable works towards the poor, and so many other initiatives, transmit a powerful message to the Church in your country,” Pope Leo said.

“Millions of people are denied the basic right to religious freedom, a denial that fuels violent conflict and hinders human development,” said Bishops A. Elias Zaidan and Kevin Rhoades. “In recent years, for example, thousands of Christians and Muslims in Nigeria have been kidnapped and killed by Islamist extremists, while the government has imprisoned members of both religious groups for blasphemy.”

The prelates added, “We must stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are suffering, and resolve to do our part to promote religious freedom for all people around the world.”

Addressing Polish-speaking pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square for yesterday’s general audience, Pope Leo XIV said, “Today we celebrate the liturgical memorial of St. John Paul II. Exactly 47 years ago, in this Square, he exhorted the world to open itself to Christ. This appeal is still valid today: we are all called to make it our own.”