Pope hosts meal for 1,500 poor, homeless

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis on Sunday hosted around 1,500 poor and homeless people for lunch at the Vatican, decrying indifference to poverty as the Catholic Church marked its World Day of the Poor.

“My thoughts go to those who... have promoted solidarity initiatives to give concrete hope to the most disadvantaged,” Pope Francis told a mass in Saint Peter´s Square ahead of the lunch.

“Recently I saw some statistics on poverty. They make you suffer — the indifference of society towards the poor,” the pope said, thanking medical staff who were providing free health care to the poor at the Vatican. He also criticised what he called “the frenzy of running, of achieving everything right now, anyone left behind is viewed as a nuisance. And considered disposable.” “How many elderly, unborn, disabled and poor persons are considered useless. We go our way in haste, without worrying that gaps are increasing, that the greed of a few is adding to the poverty of many others.” The pope then joined his 1,500 guests for lunch in the Vatican´s vast Paul VI Hall.