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Vatican City, May 2, 2017 / 11:33 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Traditional solutions to the problem of poverty typically take a top-down welfare approach, focused on fulfilling a person's most basic needs, such as food and shelter – but which don't address the issue of societal participation and inclusion.

The plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, held at the Vatican April 28-May 2, aimed to find solutions which promote inclusion for the otherwise marginalized, especially the poorest in society.

“All of the 20th century, and the end of the 19th century, the response to the poorest of the poor was to provide them with absolute basic necessities, such as the workhouse, food, clothes,” said Margaret Archer, president of the Academy of Social Sciences.

“This is not enabling them to participate in society; at best, only to survive. Life is about more than just simple survival. Welfare is a top-down solution. So this was the motive for the conference on participation,” she said.

Archer, who spoke to journalists at a press conference May 2, said the question of how to go about helping “the poorest of the poor” is a “major challenge” for social theory.

“When you have a population of extreme poverty, what do you do? You give them welfare. The Pope doesn't want the simplistic solution of just giving them money, because it doesn't last forever anyway,” she said.

The academy's plenary session, titled “Towards a participatory society: new ways for social and cultural integration,” discussed the wide-ranging topic of societal exclusion, which can manifest in different ways in different parts of the world.

In addition to the poor and economically disadvantaged, it also can include migrants and refugees, religious minorities, and those with disabilities.

In some parts of the world, an initial exclusion can end up leading to more and worsening issues, said Paulus Zulu, a professor at the University of Natal. In Africa, for example, he said there is “a crisis of representative democracy.”

This is one of the major causes of a lack of social participation, he explained. And when this happens to too great an extent, it frequently leads to excluded populations seeking inclusion or existence elsewhere, one of the reasons behind migration, especially economic migration.

In their meetings, the group discussed alternative ways to bring about “global social change in the direction of inclusivity and fraternity,” Archer said, one solution being through Church support of non-governmental organizations.

Pope Francis sent a message to the academy on April 28 encouraging them in their plenary session and urging them, according to the Church’s social doctrine, to find “ways to apply in practice fraternity as the governing principle of the economic order.”

“Fraternity allows people who are equal in their essence, dignity, freedom, and their fundamental rights to participate differently in the common good according to their capacity, their plan of life, their vocation, their work, or their charism of service,” he said.

“From the beginning of my pontificate, I wanted to point out that 'in our brother lies the permanent extension of the Incarnation for each of us' (Evangelii Gaudium, 179). In fact, the protocol we are judged by is based on brotherhood: 'All you did to one of these least brothers of mine, you did to me' (Mt. 25:40).”

“Even though we live in a world where wealth abounds, many people are still victims of poverty and social exclusion,” Francis continued.

“The Gospel Proposal: 'Seek first the Kingdom of God and its justice, and all these things will be added to you' (Mt 6:33) has been and is still a new energy in history that tends to arouse fraternity, freedom, justice, peace and dignity for all.”

Concluding, he quoted from Benedict XVI’s encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, saying: “To the extent that the Lord will succeed in reigning in us and among us, we will be able to participate in divine life and we will be one to the other ‘instruments of his grace, to pour out the mercy of God and to weave nets of charity and fraternity.’”

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Washington D.C., May 2, 2017 / 12:06 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Relics of St. Padre Pio will soon be touring the United States, with stops at a number of dioceses during a two-part tour later this year.

The relics will be on display for veneration between Masses at cathedrals across America from May 6-21 and again From September 16 – October 1 this year.

The tour is taking place to commemorate the 130th anniversary of Padre Pio’s birth, and the 15th anniversary of his canonization. It is being sponsored by the Saint Pio Foundation, which works to promote awareness of the saintly priest and continue his work. The foundation raises funds for American Catholic healthcare as well as educational, social, religious, and cultural organizations.

Padre Pio was born Francesco Forgione in Pietrelcina, Italy on May 25, 1887.

He voiced a desire for the priesthood at age 10 and entered the Capuchin order at age 15, taking the name Pio. At the age of 23, he was ordained a priest.

The saint was widely known during his lifetime as a mystic. He dedicated much of his priesthood to hearing confessions. People would travel from around the world to have their confessions heard by Padre Pio, as he had the gift of being able to read souls.

He also received the stigmata, or the wounds of Christ, and was known for being able to heal people. He was reported to bi-locate, or appear in two locations at once.

Padre Pio died Sept. 23, 1968 and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002.

The schedule for the relic tour is below:

• May 6-8 at Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
• May 9 at Saint Paul Cathedral in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
• May 10-11 at Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in the Archdiocese of Denver.
• May 13 at Cathedral of the Risen Christ in the Diocese of Lincoln.
• May 18-19 at St. Andrew Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
• May 20-21 at Saint Ann Catholic Church in the Diocese of Arlington.
• September 17-18 at St. Patrick Cathedral in the Archdiocese of New York.
• September 20 at Cathedral St. Joseph the Workman in the Diocese of La Crosse.
• September 20 at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
• September 22-23 at Basilica of St. John the Baptism in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
• September 24 at St. Theresa Catholic Church in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
• September 29 at Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in the Diocese of Saginaw.

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IMAGE: CNS photo/Jennifer Willems, The

By Jennifer Willems

PEORIA, Ill. (CNS) -- After riding bicycles a little more than 340 miles over five days, three young priests of the Diocese of Peoria sailed across the Indiana state line April 28, bringing Priests Pedaling for Prayers to a close.

"It does seem a little surreal," Father Tom Otto said at journey's end. "Things like this seem insurmountable when you begin, but maybe like life, you focus on the short-term goals. ... That makes it doable. Take one little bit at a time and before you know it, you've done something pretty incredible."

The effort to raise prayers for vocations began April 24 when Father Otto, Father Michael Pica and Father Adam Cesarek dipped their rear tires in the Mississippi River, which marks the border between Iowa and Illinois. They were sent forth with the blessing of students at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy in East Moline, who lined both sides of the street outside the school to cheer them on.

Along the way, they stopped to talk with students and parishioners at 15 schools and churches about the need for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, as well as good, holy marriages "from which all vocations come."

They also celebrated Mass, took part in Holy Hours for vocations, stopped to pray at the Bishops' Mausoleum in St. Mary's Cemetery in West Peoria, and visited with people at potluck gatherings, dinners and receptions arranged by the vocation apostolates or Knights of Columbus councils in each area.

At most stops, they received pledge cards from children and adults with promises of prayer, sacrifice and good deeds to support them on the ride and ask God for an increase in vocations.

"What's been really neat to see is the goodness of the people of our diocese. That's been, for me, absolutely the most powerful part," said Father Cesarek, who is parochial vicar at four faith communities in central Illinois.

"The overwhelming support we had from each and every place we went, the joy that each place had and the excitement that they maintained ... really invigorated me and gave me an incredible hope for our diocese," he said.

He said the trio were inspired by the good, holy people they encountered, including the priests of the Diocese of Peoria, many of whom were on hand for their visits and offered them hospitality for the night.

"There were things that surprised us along the way," said Father Otto, parochial vicar at two parishes and a chaplain for students at Monmouth College. "The fact that every school and every parish did something different for us was a nice surprise."

The pedaling priests found a drumline waiting for them at Costa Catholic Academy in Galesburg, a parade with students from St. Mary School in Pontiac and St. Paul School in Odell walking or biking with them, and signs, streamers and tunnels of enthusiastic students at others. When they arrived at Schlarman Academy in Danville, near the Indiana border, students were holding a large "Finish Line" banner they had signed.

Father Pica, parochial vicar at three parishes in McLean and DeWitt counties, credits the welcome at the schools with "pumping us up and getting us ready to go, giving us momentum to do the ride."

That was especially important on April 26, when the priests did their "century" ride -- 100 miles in one day. In all, they were on the road for 20 hours and 45 minutes, averaging about 17 miles an hour.

Each priest had a tough day, but it wasn't the same day so they were able to support and encourage whoever was struggling. They prayed the rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet and caught up with each other when the wind was at their backs and they were able to ride side by side.

"There's moments of quiet, which is all right, too," Father Cesarek said. "There are moments of suffering out there. I was kind of keeping in mind particular people, some of the kids in our school who are suffering with cancer, offering that suffering for them."

They emphasized that they aren't the only priests willing to suffer and go the extra mile for their people.

"There are so many priests out there who will do anything and everything and they don't get recognition for it," Father Pica said. In fact, these men prefer to remain behind the scenes.

Would they do it again?

"Ask us in a couple months," Father Otto said, laughing.

"Without question," Father Cesarek said, "we would all be open to it again, if the Lord wills it."

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Willems is assistant editor and special sections editor at The Catholic Post, newspaper of the Diocese of Peoria.

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