Pope Francis had deep concern for all the poor. He however showed exceptional attention to the groups of the poor that the society treats as the outcasts, the forgotten, and the disposable. These include the homeless, the street children, the poor living in shanty towns, inner cities and slums.
Some people call them the economic lepers, the poor who are treated almost like lepers. We call them the poor of Saint Francis. This is because the way Saint Francis in 1205 embraced the lepers of his time inspire us to embrace the lepers of our time, seeing in them the crucified face of Christ.
