Pope Pontificates about the Plight of the Poor and HHH4Africa Acts

WOW! Things having been moving fast since we established our little charity to help the poor of Liberia and Congo! Pope Leo has been busy as well. In case anyone missed it, he has written an Apostolic Exhortation named Dilexi Te, an Apostolic Letter DRAWING NEW MAPS OF HOPE and a large encyclical that will set the tone for the next 100+ years of human interactions with technology.

We are SO BLESSED TO HAVE AN AMERICAN POPE in the Vatican. He has taken on the obligations of the office and challenged many of the norms of society in 2026. But he has NOT LEFT THE POOR BEHIND. It is wonderful to know that we have an American Pontiff who has background growing up in the USA and being a missionary in impoverished areas of South America for so many years as well.

It may be divine providence that has directed this path for HHH4Africa to start up in the middle of a time of such excitement in the American Catholic church. By the way, all of these specific writings of the Pope are not just directed to the Catholic church, but to all people of good faith. If not divine intercession, at least happy coincidence that his apostolic letter had the word, "HOPE" in it. Another happy coincidence, as we received word of our official incorporation, we learned that our EIN had an especially significant number, "37" in it. This happens to be the birth year in 1937 of one of our chief intercessors, Marilyn Pollard.

Meanwhile, we continue our work with the guiding hand of God and with inspiration from our Holy Father. We will look at the teachings in these documents and certainly take time to digest the text of MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS. Here are a few highpoints that will guide us:

• Instead, let us establish standards for discernment — the dignity of the human person, the universal destination of goods, the preferential option for the poor, care for our common home and peace — and let us translate these standards into practices such as responsible planning, the assessment of human and social impact, the inclusion of the most vulnerable, the promotion of digital literacy and guiding research and industry toward justice and peace.

• Pope Saint John Paul examined the scourge of underdevelopment. He acknowledged the failure of numerous attempts to accelerate the economic development of poor peoples and to assist them in the process of industrialization,...

• ...financial assistance to the poor may at times be necessary in emergencies, but it cannot become the sole response, since the goal is to enable each person to live with dignity through his or her own work.

• In many countries, including those in the Global South, increased military spending is presented as the only response to an uncertain future or perceived threats. Meanwhile, the real cost falls on the poorest, who see resources for healthcare, education and social services being reduced.

• I invite everyone to cherish places and times where physical presence remains crucial, such as shared meals, Christian community gatherings, time spent with the lonely and serving the poor.