What is the preferential option for the poor?

The preferential option for the poor is the Catholic principle that the needs of the poor and vulnerable must receive special priority in the decisions of society and the Church. This does not mean that the poor are morally superior or that other people do not matter, but that a just society is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable members. The principle is deeply rooted in Scripture: God consistently shows special concern for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger throughout the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 10:18, Isaiah 58:6-7). Jesus identified Himself with the poor: 'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me' (Matthew 25:40). The term was given prominence by the Latin American bishops at Puebla (1979) and was affirmed by Pope John Paul II and subsequent popes. It calls Christians to examine every policy, institution, and personal choice through the lens of its impact on the poorest. It is not a political ideology but a Gospel imperative.