Reach out and touch the poor, Pope says in Lent message

By Philip Pullella ROME (Reuters) – Pope Francis called for a fair distribution of wealth and equal access to education and health care on Tuesday in a Lenten message where he urged people to reach out and touch "the poverty of our brothers". During Lent, which begins on March 5 this year, Christians are called on to carry out acts of self-denial and help those less fortunate. He again called on the wealthy to share their good fortune, to not be blind to the needs of others, and not to practice superficial solidarity or vain displays of self-denial. "Our consciences thus need to be converted to justice, equality, simplicity and sharing." Francis said material poverty and moral destitution were often intertwined.