Overview
- Pope Leo XIV presided over a Jubilee of the Poor Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, greeting about 12,000 in the square and celebrating with roughly 6,000 inside.
- He urged those in political authority to heed the cries of the poorest, framing peace as dependent on justice and calling believers to attentive, practical care.
- The Pope described poverty as material, moral and spiritual, saying loneliness is the common tragedy that demands a culture of attention.
- After the Angelus, he condemned global persecution of Christians and lamented a civilian massacre in Kivu, citing at least 20 victims as AFP reported officials counted at least 18 in an ADF attack.
- He thanked volunteers and charities such as the Vincentians and Missionaries of Charity, with the day’s events part of the holy year and the World Day of the Poor instituted in 2017.