Our Heavenly Queen
We pray for the intercession of Our Lady whose loving arms embrace those who are poor.
Pope Francis established the World Day of the Poor in 2017.
Pope Francis has declared Sunday 17 November 2024 to be the eighth World Day of the Poor, with the theme of “The prayer of the poor rises up to God."
The expression that gives the 2024 World Day of the Poor its theme is taken from the Book of Sirach (cf. Sir 21:5), which Pope Francis says is not sufficiently known and deserves to be discovered for the richness of its themes.
In his message for this World Day of the Poor, the Holy Father reiterates that "the poor hold a privileged place in God’s heart" and invites everyone to learn to pray for the poor and to pray together with the poor, with humility and trust.
“God knows the sufferings of his children because he is an attentive and caring father. As a father, he takes care of those who are most in need: the poor, the marginalised, the suffering and the forgotten. No one is excluded from his heart, for in his eyes, we are all poor and needy.”
In his message Pope Francis criticises policies that promote wars. He writes: "The violence caused by wars clearly shows the arrogance of those who consider themselves to be powerful before men and women, but they are poor in the eyes of God. How many more people are impoverished by misguided policies involving weapons! How many innocent victims! Yet we cannot turn our backs to this reality."
The Holy Father highlighted the example of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who spent her life working for the poor and who described herself as “only a poor sister who prays.”
"We are called in every circumstance to be friends of the poor, following in the footsteps of Jesus who always began by showing solidarity when dealing with the least among us,” the pope said.
What can you do?
Pray a novena based on scripture
Take a look at this novena for the World Day of the Poor by Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN), which is offered as a way to help us to prayerfully encounter in scripture God’s constant care for those who are in various forms of poverty and to prompt in us a desire for more just relations in the community.
Go to the World Day of the Poor novena
Pray with us
On this day we are invited to offer friendship, solidarity and welcome to the poorest of our sisters and brothers. As we reach out with love and support, let us hold all members of our global family in our prayers.
Prayers on poverty
Full of grace
Inspired by Mary, full of grace, we pray for courage, strength and persistence.
God's transforming power
A prayer which asks for God's power to transform our lives, so we can commit afresh to God's work of compassion and love.
Fire of hope
A prayer giving thanks for the chance to connect with other people around the world and praying for hope, joy and courage as we build one global family.
Prayer for a better world
This prayer encourages us to give thanks for all we have received and be moved to help build a better world for future generations.
You journey with us
A prayer that can be used in times of emergency or crisis. It is about our journey with God who is present in all people we meet.
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Answering God's call
We celebrate the example of Mary and all women who have answered God's call. We ask Mary's intercession to help us bring about a better world.
Behold the woman that I am
A poem and prayers by Sabakan, a diocesan ministry to women in the Philippines
Prayer for 60 years of CAFOD
This prayer was written to give thanks for the role of women's organisations in creating CAFOD and for the support that they continue to give.
He heals the broken-hearted
This Lenten prayer, inspired by Psalm 147:3, asks God to heal our hearts of all that prevents us from responding to our sisters and brothers excluded by poverty.
Prayer for women
This prayer reminds us that is is not just what we do that is important, but how we do it as we pray for women throughout the world.
Justice guided by love
This prayer inspires us to care for the earth and our neighbour, especially those who are displaced.
Out of darkness
We pray for all those who feel darkness and despair due to the crises we face in our world today.
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World Gifts
Buy a World Gift for Christmas and help to change the lives of those living in poverty.