“This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him”

The Order of Malta is responding to the invitation of Pope Francis to actively participate in this second World Day of the Poor. The cry of the poor man is he who may be poor in spirit or in body. The Order has answered this cry for help from the destitute throughout its history. It inspires the Order’s thousands of members and volunteers.

All over the world we run soup kitchens for the homeless – in 2017, distributing 5,500,000 meals – we offer social and medical aid to the disadvantaged and the desperate on the six continents, support victims of natural disasters, give comfort to those who are poor in spirit. In the 120 countries where we work, our efforts continue unabated to serve those in need.

The 18th November is no different from any other day – except that our organisations around the world unite with His Holiness himself, in prayer and action, to mark the need for a combined effort to reduce poverty.

The Order of Malta will launch an international communications campaign in the preceeding days, to raise awareness of the shocking percentage of the world’s population who live below the poverty line, in the hope that together we will, and we must, continue to make a difference.