The reality of housing in Pope Francis' messages for the World Day of the Poor and the CF 2026

Abstract

This study examines the inseparable relationship between fraternity and housing within the framework of the legacy of Pope Francis, based primarily on the Messages for the World Day of the Poor, in dialogue with the theme of the 2026 Fraternity Campaign. Housing is understood as a constitutive dimension of human dignity and as a concrete criterion for assessing Christian fraternity. By denouncing housing exclusion, forced migration, homelessness, and the social consequences of wars, Pope Francis highlights that the lack of housing represents one of the most severe expressions of contemporary poverty. The study demonstrates that the Christian proposal goes beyond mere assistance, requiring pastoral, ethical, and political commitment to the promotion of the right to adequate housing. It concludes that fraternity and housing form an inseparable binomial in the proclamation of the Gospel.