Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention for September 2023

Published on September 16, 2023

The following is the text of the Pope’s video with the prayer intention for the month of September, disseminated via the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, on the theme:
Let us pray for those people on the margins of society in subhuman living conditions, that they may not be neglected by institutions and never be cast out:

Video Message of the Holy Father:

A homeless person who dies on the street will never appear among the top stories of search engines or newscasts.

How could we have reached this level of indifference?

How is it that we allow the “throwaway culture” – in which millions of men and women are worth nothing compared to economic goods – how is it that we allow this culture to dominate our lives, our cities, our way of life?

Our necks are going to get stiff from looking the other way so we don’t have to see this situation.

Please, let’s stop making invisible those who are on the margins of society, whether it’s due to poverty, addictions, mental illness or disability.

Let’s focus on accepting them, on welcoming all the people who need it.

The “culture of welcoming,” of hospitality, of providing shelter, of giving a home, of offering love, of giving human warmth.

Let us pray for those people on the margins of society in subhuman living conditions, that they may not be neglected by institutions and never be cast out.