Pope Leo XIV marked the World Day of the Poor by gathering with more than 1,300 people experiencing hardship for a festive Sunday lunch inside the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall. The gathering, intended as a moment of joy, dignity, and fraternity, brought together the Holy Father, the Vincentian community, and people from many different backgrounds who daily carry the weight of poverty, loneliness, or exclusion.
According to Catholic News Agency, the hall had been transformed into a large dining space for the celebration, with the Vincentian missionaries organizing the entire event in honor of the 400th anniversary of the founding of both the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity. Volunteers served a hearty menu, lasagna, breaded chicken with potatoes, and the classic Neapolitan dessert babà, creating the atmosphere of a family feast.
CNA reported that, as in previous years, the Pope also welcomed a group of transgender individuals from Torvaianica, invited through the office of the papal almoner, Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski. Father Andrea Conocchia, pastor in that seaside community, told ACI Prensa he accompanied “about 50 transgender people from his community” to share in the celebration.
Organizers emphasized that the Vatican intentionally avoided disposable materials, providing full table service with real dishes and linens in an effort to “highlight dignity and respect,” according to the CNA report. The goal, they said, was not merely to offer food, but to provide an experience of genuine welcome.
During the lunch, Pope Leo XIV expressed deep gratitude to the Vincentian family for their service to those most in need, saying, “This lunch that we now receive is offered by Providence and by the great generosity of the Vincentian community, to whom we wish to express our gratitude,” according to CNA.
He also reflected on the meaning of the day established under Pope Francis, telling those gathered, “With great joy we gather this afternoon for this lunch on the World Day of the Poor, which was so desired by my beloved predecessor, Pope Francis.”
The Holy Father offered thanks for all who dedicate their lives to the poor, noting, “So many priests, religious sisters, and lay volunteers devote their lives to helping people who experience various needs. We are filled with gratitude for them.”
Before the meal began, the Pope led everyone in prayer, asking the Lord to bless the food, the guests, their families, and those suffering throughout the world. “Let us invoke the Lord’s blessing upon those who suffer from violence, war, and hunger, and may we celebrate this feast today in a spirit of fraternity,” he prayed, according to CNA.
Music filled the hall as young musicians from Naples performed classical and Neapolitan selections, contributing to the joyful atmosphere. At the end of the celebration, each guest received a “St. Vincent’s Backpack” with food and hygiene items, a small sign of ongoing care from the Vincentian Family of Italy.
The event reflected the heart of Pope Leo XIV’s ongoing call to live a Church close to the poor, rooted in fraternity, tenderness, and concrete acts of mercy, especially on a day meant to place the suffering Christ among us at the center of the Church’s life.
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