At noon today in the Consistory Hall, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in Audience a delegation from the Amis de Gabriel Rosset (Friends of Gabriel Rosset) and from Foyer Notre-Dame des Sans-Abri (Our Lady's Shelter for the Homeless) from the Archdiocese of Lyon (France) accompanied by their Archbishop, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin.
Your Eminence,
Dear friends,
I am very happy to meet you and I wish you to know how much I appreciate your commitment to serving the poorest of the poor, those who have been rejected by society, who no longer have a roof over their heads, nothing to satisfy their hunger, no more work and therefore no more dignity. I thank you for the presentation about your work which was made in the name of your delegation.
Your founder, Gabriel Rosset, heard the cry of the poor, he was deeply affected by the suffering of others; and he responded generously. This call was none other than the call of the suffering Christ: in the persons who you serve, you touch his wounds and you care for them; and at the same time, they teach you a very profound lesson, for it is through them that you meet Jesus. The poor evangelize us. They always evangelize us by mysteriously teaching us the wisdom of God.
The world urgently needs this witness of divine mercy. While the human person today is so often rejected as useless when he or she is no longer profitable, God always recognizes in us the dignity and the nobility of a beloved child: we have a preferred place in his heart. The poor are the beloved of God, the central focus of the gospel.
Thank you for giving witness to God's mercy, through so many concrete actions, simple and warm gestures through which you soothe people of their suffering, giving them a new experience, and restoring their dignity. There is no better way to proclaim the joy of the gospel to the world today. A preferential option for the poor, for those who have been rejected and cast aside by society is a sign that you can always give, a sign which bears effective witness to Christ who died and rose again. A sacramental sign!
During this time of Advent, while we turn our attention to the Virgin Mary who gave the world our Saviour and took such good care of him, I have one suggestion for you: stay connected to the name that your founder wanted to give to his work - Notre-Dame des Sans Abri. What a beautiful name: the Mother of Jesus who provides a roof for her children! The marian dimension of your devotion to others seems essential to me. The Heart of Mary is full of compassion for all people, especially those who are poorest and need her help the most; her maternal tenderness - together with the tender care of the Church - is manifested through you.
May Our Lady of the Homeless keep you focused on your path, make your dedication fruitful and give faith and hope to all those you encounter. May the All-powerful God bless you!
Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the meeting with the
Amis de Gabriel Rosset and the
Foyer Notre-Dame des Sans-Abri
Your Eminence,
Dear friends,
I am very happy to meet you and I wish you to know how much I appreciate your commitment to serving the poorest of the poor, those who have been rejected by society, who no longer have a roof over their heads, nothing to satisfy their hunger, no more work and therefore no more dignity. I thank you for the presentation about your work which was made in the name of your delegation.
Your founder, Gabriel Rosset, heard the cry of the poor, he was deeply affected by the suffering of others; and he responded generously. This call was none other than the call of the suffering Christ: in the persons who you serve, you touch his wounds and you care for them; and at the same time, they teach you a very profound lesson, for it is through them that you meet Jesus. The poor evangelize us. They always evangelize us by mysteriously teaching us the wisdom of God.
The world urgently needs this witness of divine mercy. While the human person today is so often rejected as useless when he or she is no longer profitable, God always recognizes in us the dignity and the nobility of a beloved child: we have a preferred place in his heart. The poor are the beloved of God, the central focus of the gospel.
Thank you for giving witness to God's mercy, through so many concrete actions, simple and warm gestures through which you soothe people of their suffering, giving them a new experience, and restoring their dignity. There is no better way to proclaim the joy of the gospel to the world today. A preferential option for the poor, for those who have been rejected and cast aside by society is a sign that you can always give, a sign which bears effective witness to Christ who died and rose again. A sacramental sign!
During this time of Advent, while we turn our attention to the Virgin Mary who gave the world our Saviour and took such good care of him, I have one suggestion for you: stay connected to the name that your founder wanted to give to his work - Notre-Dame des Sans Abri. What a beautiful name: the Mother of Jesus who provides a roof for her children! The marian dimension of your devotion to others seems essential to me. The Heart of Mary is full of compassion for all people, especially those who are poorest and need her help the most; her maternal tenderness - together with the tender care of the Church - is manifested through you.
May Our Lady of the Homeless keep you focused on your path, make your dedication fruitful and give faith and hope to all those you encounter. May the All-powerful God bless you!
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