Pope Leo XIV said that serving the poor must embody charity through assistance, welcome, and the promotion of human dignity
Newsroom (02/09/2025, Gaudium Press)Pope Leo XIV met with members of Opera San Francesco per i Poveri, a Milan-based organization dedicated to serving the poor, urging them to embody charity through assistance, welcome, and the promotion of human dignity. The pontiff praised the group’s nearly seven-decade legacy of providing meals, clothing, medical care, and support to over 30,000 individuals annually, calling it a testament to faith-driven generosity.
Speaking to a delegation from the institution, founded by Capuchin friar Fra Cecilio Maria Cortinovis, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the organization’s mission to assist, welcome, and promote. “For nearly seventy years, your institution has been committed to ensuring assistance and hospitality to people in need and fostering the full human development of the person in the light of the Christian tradition,” he said, citing its alignment with the Franciscan tradition and the Church’s teachings.
The Pope outlined three core dimensions of their work. First, he described assistance as “being present to the needs of others,” commending the organization’s extensive services, which support thousands each year. Second, he highlighted the importance of welcome, which involves “making space for the other in one’s heart” through listening, prayer, and personal engagement—an approach he noted was inspired by Pope Francis’s emphasis on compassion. Finally, he spoke of promotion, which entails fostering freedom and dignity without expecting reward, reflecting God’s unconditional love. Quoting Saint John Paul II, he stressed the importance of “increasing the dignity and creativity of each individual” to fulfill their unique vocation.
Pope Leo XIV framed these efforts as a mission not only for the Church but for society at large, encouraging the group to continue their work as a beacon of God’s love. He concluded by imparting his apostolic blessing, thanking the members for their service and their collective witness.
Opera San Francesco per i Poveri, established in 1959, remains a cornerstone of charitable work in Milan, offering practical aid and spiritual support to those in need while upholding the Franciscan values of humility and care.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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