Pope Benedict XVI clearly puts care for the poor at the heart of the Catholic Church. In his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (God is Love), he said three things make the Church the Church: Proclaiming the Gospel, celebrating the Sacraments and caring for the poor. This love of the poor is an essential and defining activity of the Church. Benedict declares, “Love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind is as essential to her [the Church] as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel. The church cannot neglect the service of charity anymore than she can neglect the sacraments and the word” (#22).
This emphatic call is an extension of the great commandment to love our neighbor. In fact, Pope Benedict insists: “Love of God and love of neighbor have become one: In the least of the brethren we find Jesus himself, and in Jesus we find God.” And, our neighbor is anyone who needs our help and whom we can help (#15). In this encyclical, the pope states that today loving our neighbor has global dimensions since we see and respond to people’s struggles and needs almost instantaneously .(#30).
Pope Benedict XVI expressed in Deus Caritas Est that this duty to love the poor should be expressed in generous responses to immediate and specific needs. The Holy Father also points out that “[C]harity must animate the entire lives of the lay faithful and therefore also their political activity, lived as social charity” (#29). Benedict said: “The Church cannot and must not take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just society possible. She cannot and must not replace the State. Yet, at the same time she cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice” (#29). The Church contributes to the search for justice through offering her moral principles “through rational argument and…the spiritual energy without which justice… cannot prevail and proper” (#28).
Pope Benedict comes to a Catholic Church in the United States that takes seriously the challenge of practicing charity and seeking justice– and acts on it everyday and in countless ways. Most of this is carried out in individual acts never noticed or counted. This call is lived out in Catholic Charities across our nation, in health care for the poor in 700 Catholic hospitals, and in the empowering work of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). Last year, CCHD provided $12 million to help low-income families lift themselves out of poverty. We shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, care for the sick, and welcome the stranger every day. Catholic Charities USA has launched an impressive Campaign to End Poverty. Catholic Relief Services is in 100 countries serving the poorest people on earth in our name.
The Church brings together moral principles taught by the Pope, our everyday experience, our structures, our leaders and many people to stand with the poor and work for greater charity and justice in our nation and around the world. The bishops’ conference advocates for poor children, families and low-wage workers in economic policy; the federal budget; climate change legislation; affordable housing legislation; HIV/AIDS relief; and, the Farm bill. We believe how the “least of these” are treated is a moral measure of our society.
During his visit, the Holy Father will likely remind us, as Jesus did, that our judgment depends on what we do for the hungry, the thirsty, those in prison, the least of these (Mt. 25). He will remind us that charity and social charity are at the heart of what it means to be follower of Jesus Christ in our time. The Holy Father’s Journey of Hope will bring hope for the poor and hope for the rest of us who accept his call to place care for the poor at the center of our lives.
Kathy Saile is the Director of the USCCB Office of Domestic Social Development
Thank you Kathy, however, our Bishops only ‘advocate’ for those who are in need. Our Bishops have touched our hearts, and we the laity reach out to feed the poor, lead the blind, help the lame and reach out to the disenfranchised. But where are they including the poor, low-wage earned, HIV/AIDS, you know “the least of these” by recognition, inclusion or visibly sharing of resources during this most viewed of times?
The plans for the Pope do not include time to visit a soup kitchen, perhaps have a meal there instead of at a Cardinal’s residence; the plans do not include a prayer with the elderly awaiting the Lord in a low income retirement home; the plans do not include opening rooms anywhere in NYC or DC to house homeless families. We are so involved with getting the cardinals, Bishops, seminarians, religious leaders and important people to the Pope that we are missing the ‘teaching moment’ that this presents.
May the Bishops consider and include, very visibly, actions that will show all who are watching that we, the American Catholic church do celebrate our Pope and share this celebration and increase the honor of those who are’ the least of all of us.”
Do not forget that we ourselves are the poor in spirit.
Yes, Sylvia, how inspiring it would be to see our beloved Benedict XVI minister to the visibly downtrodden in the heart of NY or DC. Nevertheless, lifting up the poor in spirit by meeting with the victims of sexual abuse, and building the bridges of friendship by accepting the invitation of the Rabbi and holocaust survivor are two beautiful and inspiring gestures.
Witnessing history as Benedict represented 6 million US Catholics, preaching to and teaching our President, addressing the United Nations, and making reconciliatory gestures, brought much joy to this poor soul. It was good to be a Catholic in the US, for those short days. Benedict was a witness to the power of the Holy Spirit in our Church.
Deo Gratias!