Pope Leo XIV: ‘No One is So Poor as to Have Nothing to Give’

Paris, September 26, 2026: Pope Leo XIV visited the Maison Bakhita social integration centre in Paris on Saturday, where he encouraged migrants, refugees, staff and volunteers to share the spiritual and material gifts they have received from God.

During his visit, the Pope thanked the Archdiocese of Paris, which runs the centre, along with its staff and volunteers for providing “welcome, a listening ear, formation, and friendship” to migrants and refugees.

The centre is named after St. Josephine Bakhita, a former slave who became a religious sister in Italy. Pope Leo highlighted her life as an example of the “fundamental role of women in building a civilization of love” and in responding to a culture that can leave communities divided and cities marked by loneliness.

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“When we look closely, the history of the Church and of humanity is not written by those who give the impression of winning by imposing themselves and ‘dominating the room,’ but by those who ‘make room,’ initiate processes of peace, build trust, and encourage life,” he said.

Reflecting on St. Bakhita’s witness, Pope Leo called for greater attention to people who are often overlooked by society and stressed the “immeasurable dignity of every brother and sister”. He said the poor should not be viewed merely as a sociological category, but as “the very flesh of Christ”, calling Christians to serve and love them.

The Pope also encouraged people to recognise that everyone has something to give and something to receive.

“No one is so poor as to have nothing to give; no one is so rich as to have nothing to receive,” he said. “There is life in abundance wherever each person’s limitations become an opening to the mysterious presence of others.”

Pope Leo drew on St. Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 12, which describes the Christian community as one body in which every member needs the others. He said sharing with one another helps humanity move beyond the divisions and hardships introduced by sin and participate in the ongoing work of redemption.

Concluding his visit, Pope Leo thanked Maison Bakhita and Christians throughout France involved in similar works of charity.

“Continue to bear witness,” he said, “to that care for one another which, through fraternal welcome, programmes of formation, and dialogue with the city, elevates the spirit and makes the world more humane.”

Courtesy: Vatican News