Pope Leo XIV Calls on World Leaders to “Hear the Cry of the Poor” During Jubilee of the Poor

VATICAN CITY, NOv 2025 : Pope Leo XIV on Sunday delivered a powerful appeal against global poverty, urging world leaders, governments, and the Catholic community to stand with the marginalized as the Church marked the “Jubilee of the Poor.” The American pontiff, now six months into his papacy following the death of Pope Francis in May, has firmly placed social justice at the heart of his leadership.

Presiding over a prayer service at St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo said the Church “still suffers from old and new forms of poverty,” but emphasized its mission to become “the mother of the poor, a place of welcome and justice.” His remarks resonated deeply as pilgrims from around the world gathered for the special Jubilee celebration, one of the major events of the ongoing Holy Year.

The observance coincided with the World Day of the Poor, instituted by Pope Francis in 2017 to draw attention to those living in hardship. Continuing this tradition, Pope Leo was scheduled to share a meal at the Vatican with homeless individuals, refugees, and persons with disabilities. Across Rome, parishes and community groups planned similar outreach events to bring comfort, assistance, and visibility to the poor.

In his address, Pope Leo issued a direct appeal to global leaders: “I urge heads of state and leaders of nations to listen to the cry of the poorest.” He warned that true peace is impossible without justice that includes everyone. “The poor remind us of this in many ways,” he said, pointing to migration pressures and the often-ignored voices of those left behind by economic systems driven by “the myth of welfare and progress” that overlook—and even abandon—millions.

Beyond material deprivation, Pope Leo also highlighted “moral and spiritual conditions of poverty,” stressing that loneliness and social neglect are equally damaging forms of suffering that demand compassion and action.

As the Jubilee of the Poor unfolded, Pope Leo’s message stood as both a challenge and a call to conscience—urging societies to build systems rooted in dignity, solidarity, and genuine inclusion.