World leaders, citizens must use their power to aid poor, says pope

Published: 2005-12-07

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- World leaders, governments and citizens must use their power to come to the aid of the poor and oppressed, Pope Benedict XVI said in his weekly general audience. God who lives on high chooses to side with the lowly and humble, turning his attention to them "with affection while he turns his gaze away from the pompous as a sign of rejection and judgment," said the pope. "God, therefore, makes the choice to align himself in defense of the weak, the victims," a choice that is "made known to the kings" and "to all governments, to all of us that we, too, must know which side to choose ... that of the humble, the least, the poor and weak," he said in remarks apart from his text. In his Dec. 7 general audience in St. Peter's Square, the pope dedicated his catechesis to Psalm 136, a hymn of thanksgiving for the everlasting kindness of the Lord.

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