In his message for Brazil’s annual Fraternity Campaign, Pope Leo XIV has called for a concrete and lasting commitment to ensure dignified housing for those who lack it.
The message, dated February 11, was addressed to the campaign organized for more than six decades by the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil and traditionally observed during Lent.
A Sacred Time for Conversion
Describing Lent as a “sacred time,” the Pope echoed the words of Augustine of Hippo, who spoke of it as a special call from God to authentic conversion.
The Holy Father emphasized that this period of intense prayer must renew Christians’ commitment to “the poorest and most needy, with whom Christ himself identifies.” He described them as the true recipients of the Church’s preferential love — a theme he previously highlighted in his Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te, which calls for confronting the structural causes of poverty.
The Dramatic Consequences of Homelessness
The 2026 Fraternity Campaign draws inspiration from the Gospel of John: “He came to dwell among us,” inviting reflection on the suffering endured by those without adequate shelter.
The Pope recalled the words of John Paul II, who described the housing crisis as a “serious problem” with negative consequences for individuals, families, and society. In his encyclical Sollicitudo rei socialis, John Paul II called the lack of housing “a sign and summary of a whole series of economic, social, cultural, or simply human shortcomings.”
Beyond Seasonal Solidarity
Pope Leo urged that the campaign should not lead only to isolated gestures, but to a genuine awakening of conscience.
He prayed that it would foster the awareness that sharing the gifts God grants “cannot be limited to a period of the year, to a campaign, or to occasional initiatives, but must be a constant attitude.” Such an attitude, he said, commits believers to encounter Christ present in those who have nowhere to live.
A Call for Public Policy
The Holy Father also expressed hope that the campaign would inspire government authorities to promote effective public policies aimed at improving housing conditions for the most vulnerable.
He encouraged collaboration among institutions and communities so that meaningful and lasting improvements can be achieved for those in need.
Pope Leo XIV concluded by entrusting this hope to Our Lady of Aparecida, Patroness of Brazil, imparting his blessing upon all who work to ensure that every person may have dignified housing.