By Charles Igwe
During the second week of the Synod on Synodality, Pope Francis had lunch with a group of Rome’s poor at his Vatican residence. Similar to the synod assembly participants, these lunch guests were asked about their expectations from the Church.
According to Paolo Ruffini, the president of the synod’s Commission for Information, the response of the poor was a simple but profound one: “love, only love.”
This gathering was described as a small “circolo minore” (small group) at Casa Santa Marta, one of the Vatican residences. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Pope’s almoner, also attended the meal.
The topic of the poor was a significant focus of the synod’s discussions on October 10. Sheila Leocádia Pires, the secretary for the Commission for Information, highlighted that many participants emphasized the desire for a Church that is pro-poor, humble, and willing to walk alongside the less fortunate.
It was emphasized that the poor come in various forms and are often excluded or at risk of exclusion from society. Some synod members pointed out that the poor experience exclusion more intensely than other marginalized groups.
