Selected quotes of Pope Benedict XVI offered daily for prayer and reflection….

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Poverty
 


In present-day society, many forms of poverty are born from isolation, from being unloved, from the rejection of God and from a deep-seated tragic closure in man who believes himself to be self-sufficient, or else merely an insignificant and transient datum; in this world of ours which is alienated …when too much trust is placed in merely human projects. Only Christ can be our certain hope. This is the message that we Christians are called to spread every day, through our witness.

 
Homily
The Esplanade
Brno, Czech Republic
27 September 2009

 
 
 
Poverty
 


Poverty is fought if humanity becomes more fraternal as a result of shared values and ideals, founded on the dignity of the person, on freedom joined to responsibility, on the effective recognition of the place of God in the life of man. In this perspective, let us fix our gaze on Jesus, the lowly infant lying in the manger. Because he is the Son of God, he tells us that fraternal solidarity between all men and women is the royal road to fighting poverty and to building peace. May the light of his love illumine all government leaders and all humanity! May that light guide us throughout this year which has now begun!

 
"State of the World" address
Vatican, 8 January 2009