Discover the Duckett Library: Faith and Learning
November 14, 2025
Jane Crone, CAFOD in East Anglia and Brentwood, and member of the Caritas East Anglia Steering Group, reflects on Pope Leo’s message for the World Day of the Poor, urging Catholics in the Diocese of East Anglia to renew their commitment to faith, hope and charity through practical social action inspired by his teaching document Dilexit Te.
The Jubilee of Hope World Day of the Poor on 16 November takes as its theme a phrase from Psalm 71: “You are my Hope.” Despite living in a time of great trouble, the psalmist holds fast to faith and hope in God, who is described as a “rock of refuge” and a “strong fortress”.
In his message for the World Day of the Poor, Pope Leo calls the poor “witnesses of hope” because they cannot find hope in power or wealth, which so often disappoint. True treasure – which cannot rot, rust or be stolen – lies in God, alongside a lasting hope that will never fail us. He reminds us that Christian hope is symbolised by an anchor which grounds our hearts in Jesus our Saviour and points towards our true home in heaven.
Pope Leo’s message calls us to help transform our world by turning our hearts into “fertile soil where charity for the life of the world can blossom” through faith, hope and charity. “Charity is not just a promise; it is a present reality to be embraced with joy and responsibility. Charity engages us and guides our decisions towards the common good.”
On 4 October, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, Pope Leo signed his first teaching document, Dilexit Te. In it he wrote that “charity is not optional but a requirement of true worship” (#42) and is “the burning heart of the Church’s mission” (#15).
In both Dilexit Te and his message for the World Day of the Poor, Pope Leo challenges us to reconsider our response to poverty and injustice, both as individuals and as a Catholic community. In our Diocese, Catholic charities such as the SVP, food banks, Mary’s Meals and CAFOD reach out to those in need at home and overseas, while also campaigning for the deeper, structural causes of poverty to be addressed. The Holy Father’s message invites us to reflect on how we might become more deeply involved in Catholic Social Action within our parishes, deaneries and across our Diocese.
David Livesey, Caritas East Anglia Administrator, adds:
“This Sunday, the 9th World Day of the Poor, is an opportune moment to reflect not only on Pope Leo’s message for the day but also on his recent Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te. It sets out the long evolutionary history of the Church’s social teaching with its preference for the poor, the many ways in which over the centuries their needs have been met and which Pope Leo calls on us to emulate in the face to their needs and their causes in the world as it is today.”
For those wishing to learn more about Catholic Social Action, Caritas Brentwood has produced a range of free resources for the World Day of the Poor and Advent. They have also created an excellent free youth version of the CSAN (Catholic Social Action Network) resource Love the Stranger, focused on Refugees and Migrants. It is suitable for use in schools and Confirmation classes, and is available on their website: www.caritasbrentwood.org/resources.
