HUMANITY MUST BE FREED FROM THE SCOURGE OF POVERTY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 27, 1999 (VIS) - In this morning's general audience, held in St. Peter's Square, the Pope spoke of "The preferential love of the poor."

The Old Testament prophets, he said, denounced the oppression and exploitation of the poor and of those who are "socially weaker." He highlighted that "to defend the poor is to honor God, Father of the poor."

He went on to say that "for this reason, in the New Testament, the cheering message of liberation is announced to the poor. ... It is necessary to adopt the interior attitude of the poor in order to participate in the 'kingdom of heaven'."

"'Evangelical' poverty," John Paul II affirmed, "always implies great love for the poorest of this world. In this third year of preparation for the Great Jubilee it is necessary to rediscover God as provident Father, who watches over human sufferings to raise therefrom all those who are afflicted."

He added: "At this point I cannot but mention once again that the poor represent a challenge for today, especially for the wealthy peoples of this planet of ours, where millions live in inhuman conditions and many literally die of hunger. Announcing God the Father to these brothers and sisters is not possible without a commitment to collaboration in the name of Christ for the construction of a more just society."

The Holy Father emphasized that the Jubilee must be an occasion for "the solid conversion of hearts so that the Spirit may rouse new witnesses (to confront the question of poverty). Christians, together with all men and women of good will, must contribute, through suitable economic and political programs, to those structural changes that are so necessary in order that humanity be freed from the scourge of poverty."

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