World Day against Poverty
Poverty for peace and social justice is the enemy of “dignity for all in practical life”
especially of children and the elderly. Day of fasting, prayer and abstinence for peace and reconciliation
The fight against poverty is a battle for freedom and justice, because without social justice, where there are extreme inequalities and exclusion and where rights enshrined on paper remain an empty shell, no freedom of individual and collective self-realisation is possible.
Today, however, we are celebrating two closely related Days: the first, from 1992, was proclaimed worldwide by the United Nations, but its history dates back to 1987. Joseph Wresinski, founder of the International Movement ATD Fourth World, launched the idea of a World Day that year to honour the victims of poverty and to mobilise public opinion against extreme poverty.
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The second Day we are joining today is timely and national, interwoven with fasting, prayer and abstinence for peace and reconciliation, promoted by the Assembly of Ordinaries in the Holy Land (AOCTS) in the face of the horror of a ‘third world war in pieces’, as confirmed by what has been happening between Israel and Palestine since 7 October, with massacres of innocents on both sides.
“Conflict has a deep and lasting impact on children, regardless of where they live. A child is a child. This has been going on for too long. All parties must prevent further escalation of violence, protect civilians and end violations against children, wherever they are and at all times.”(Statement by Lucia Elmi, UNICEF Special Representative in the State of Palestine and Matthias Schmale, Director of UNRWA Operations in the Gaza Strip).
LET US TAKE BACK PEACE TO WIN AGAINST POVERTY
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JOIN THE MOTHER CHURCH OF JERUSALEM in calling for peace with the day of prayer, fasting and works of reconciliation called by the Assembly of Ordinaries in the Holy Land (AOCTS), for today Tuesday, 17 October, and addressed to all the faithful and people of goodwill.
Dear brothers and sisters
may the Lord indeed grant us his peace!
The pain and dismay at what is happening is great. Once again we find ourselves in the midst of a political and military crisis. We have suddenly been catapulted into a sea of unprecedented violence. The hatred, which we have unfortunately already experienced for too long, will increase even more, and the ensuing spiral of violence will create more destruction. Everything seems to speak of death.
But in this moment of pain and dismay, we do not want to remain helpless. And we cannot let death and its stings (1 Cor 15:55) be the only word to be heard.
That is why we feel the need to pray, to turn our hearts to God the Father. Only in this way can we draw the strength and serenity to live this time, turning to Him, in prayer of intercession, of entreaty, and also of cry.
In the name of all the Ordinaries of the Holy Land, I invite all parishes and religious communities to a day of fasting and prayer for peace and reconciliation.
We ask that on Tuesday, 17 October, everyone make a day of fasting and abstinence, and prayer.
Prayer times with Eucharistic adoration and the rosary to the Blessed Virgin should be organised. Probably in many parts of our dioceses, circumstances will not allow for large gatherings. In parishes, in religious communities, in families, it will still be possible to organise simple and sober common moments of prayer.
This is the way we all come together, despite everything, and meet in choral prayer, to deliver to God the Father our thirst for peace, justice and reconciliation.
Assuring remembrance in prayer,
Pierbattista Card. Pizzaballa
Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins
AOCTS President