Likening the plight of today’s poor and homeless with the struggles encountered by the Holy Family, Pope Francis urged those who face such trials to rely on their faith in God and to look to St. Joseph for inspiration.
Meeting Sept. 24 with about 200 clients and about 50 employees from Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, the Holy Father said that “St. Joseph faced difficult situations (and) the Son of God came into this world as a homeless person … he knew what it was like not to have a roof over his head.”
“Like St. Joseph, you may ask, ‘Why are we homeless with no place to live?’” Pope Francis said. “Joseph was someone who asked questions, but first and foremost, he was a man of faith. Faith gave St. Joseph the power to find light amidst the dark.”
In his “encounter with the poor” at St. Patrick Church in Washington, the pope said, “in the face of unjust or painful situations, faith brings us the lights that dispels the dark.”
After his address to Congress, and prior to his blessing those at the St. Maria’s Meals free lunch program operated by Catholic Charities, the pope met inside the church with those who serve at and are served by many of Catholic Charities’ 65 programs. He spoke in Spanish, which was translated by a priest into English.
“Think about where he (Pope Francis) has been today – the Senate and Congress,” said Msgr. John Enzler, president and CEO of Catholic Charities. “He leaves there where there are powerful people to meet with those who have no voice, the weak, the vulnerable. His visit has given us a huge message of the call we all have to take care of the poor.”
Some of those inside the church who met with the pope have slept in shelters run by Catholic Charities. “I want to be very clear,” the pope said. “There can be no moral justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing.”
Greeted with rousing cheers and hearty shouts of “Viva Francisco!” and “Viva Papa!” when he entered the church, Pope Francis looked at those gathered and said, “I think of a person whom I love and has been a support and inspiration to me – St. Joseph. Your faces remind me of him.”
Calling those in need his “dear friends,” the pope reminded them, “God is present in every one of you.”
“Many face unjust situations, and we know God is suffering with us at our side. He does not abandon us,” Pope Francis said. He added that faith not only “makes us know that God is at our side, but it spurs us to charity.”
Ingrid Campos, a client of Catholic Charities called the visit by the pope “a true blessing.”
“I cannot believe what a privilege I feel because I saw the pope. I know there are many, many people who wish they could be where I am,” she said.
Angel Flores, another client, said, “I feel I have been blessed because I saw the pope. I want to tell the whole world how happy I am right now.”
One client, who asked not to be identified, said that he was “humbled and grateful” for the opportunity to meet and pray with the pope.
“I have been without a home. I’ve faced some pretty rough times,” he said. “And here I am with the pope. I cannot tell you how honored I am just to be in the same room” as the Holy Father.
Saying that charity calls every one to “love, compassion and service,” the pope said, "Jesus keeps knocking on our doors, the doors of our lives. He doesn't do this by magic, with special effects, with flashing lights and fireworks. Jesus keeps knocking on our door in the faces of our brothers and sisters, in the faces of our neighbors, in the faces of those at our side."
“Do not be cold in the face of injustice. Open your hearts to charity,” he said.
“It is beyond words for me to explain how blessed I feel,” said Ana Menjivar, Catholic Charities’ pre-natal care coordinator. “The way he spoke, you can tell his spirit is so loving. He did not just talk, he testified. He encouraged. He uplifted.”
Client Lilian Juárez said after his encounter with the pope that “today I saw the person who represents God on earth, and that was like a little bit of heaven on earth.”
Pope Francis called on those who serve the poor and the poor themselves to pray for each other.
“Prayer unites us and makes us brothers and sisters,” he said. “In prayer, there are not rich or poor people, but sons and daughters of God. In prayer, there are no first or second classes, there are brothers.”
While the meeting was primarily for Catholic Charities clients and staffers, it was held at St. Patrick Church, which is adjacent to agency’s headquarters. Several members of the parish attended the gathering.
“This is the most exciting day in the 221-year history of this parish,” said Msgr. Salvatore Criscuolo, pastor of St. Patrick’s. “We’ve hosted presidents, we’ve hosted vice presidents, we had a Eucharistic Congress, but we’ve never had a pope. This whole parish is so proud we can host him.”
Msgr. Criscuolo and Cardinal Donald Wuerl joined the pontiff as he entered the church and processed down the center aisle, often stopping to greet those who reached out to shake his had. Once inside the church, he visited a Marian altar where he placed flowers and offered prayers.
After his address, Pope Francis asked those gathered if he could lead them in praying the “Our Father.”
“Today I want to pray with you,” he said before he left. “I want to unite myself to you in prayer because I need your support, your closeness. Please do not forget to pray for me.”
