For the World Day of the Poor, which is celebrated this Sunday, November 19, Pope Francis had lunch with 1,200 people in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican.
This group of people who were able to share food with the Pontiff also attended the Mass held this morning in St. Peter’s Basilica, in which about five thousand people participated.
Today’s lunch was donated by Hilton Hotels of Italy. On the menu, the Holy Father and his guests had cannelloni stuffed with Roman ricotta and spinach topped with Parmesan Reggiano cheese .
As a second course, sautéed white meat meatballs, velouté of San Marzano tomatoes and basil with cauliflower puree were served. For dessert there was the traditional tiramisu and petit fours , that is, small and varied cakes.
Pope Francis established the World Day of the Poor since 2017, with the intention that the Church goes beyond its walls to encounter poverty in the multiple meanings in which it manifests itself in the world today.
In his message for this year’s Day, the Holy Father points out: “Every day we commit ourselves to welcoming the poor, but it is not enough. A river of poverty runs through our cities and grows larger and larger until it overflows; That river seems to overflow us, so much so that the cry of our brothers and sisters asking for help, support and solidarity becomes increasingly louder.”
“For this reason, on the Sunday before the feast of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, we gather around his Table to receive from Him, once again, the gift and commitment to live in poverty and serve the poor.”