Dinner and a warm place to sleep: How Rome is reaching out to the homeless

Last updated on: January 15, 2017 at 11:02 pm by CNA Daily News

Dinner and a warm place to sleep: How Rome is reaching out to the homeless 2017-01-15T23:02:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rome, Italy, Jan 15, 2017 / 04:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- As colder weather settled over Rome last week, two area charities have found ways to reach out to those without food or shelter during the cold winter nights: one by turning a church into a temporary shelter, another by partnering with a newly-opened McDonald’s near the Vatican.

Medicina Solidale has plans to hand out around 50 meals to area homeless on Mondays starting Jan. 13 and continuing through June. The first 1,000 meals were donated by the lately controversial, Vatican-area McDonald’s, which has been the subject of mixed reviews.

An association of doctors who volunteer with homeless throughout Rome, Medicina Solidale said they asked if “beyond the controversy,” McDonald’s would donate “some food to give to the homeless of St. Peter’s.”

“And the McDonald’s told us yes immediately,” Gianluca Scarnicci, a press officer of the organization, told CNA.

Since Jan. 7, when temperatures dropped drastically in Rome, the Community of Sant’Egidio has opened up San Callisto Church, in the Trastevere neighborhood, as an overnight shelter for those who would otherwise be on the streets, also offering a hot meal at a nearby cafeteria.

Dinner is available to guests from 7pm onwards, and from 8pm to 10pm they can enter the church, staying until around 8am the next morning. The church and adjoining rooms, equipped with heat, toilets, pillows, blankets, and beds, currently house around 30 people each night.

The church is located in an area of Trastevere belonging to the Vatican. Volunteers welcome guests during opening hours and are also available throughout the night. They also try to help find solutions to the material needs and health of guests and to locate for them, if possible, another, longer-term solution for shelter.

These initiatives reflect the request Pope Francis made Jan. 8 when he announced that his urgent prayer intention for January is for all those who live on the streets with no shelter.

The Pope asked for an increase in aid to the homeless, especially during the cold winter weather, saying that “unfortunately some didn’t make it. Let us pray for them, and let us ask the Lord to warm our hearts so as to be able to help them.”

“During these very cold days, I think of and I invite you to think of all the people who live on the streets, affected by the cold and many times by indifference,” he said.

The Pope made his appeal looking out over a frozen St. Peter’s Square and the thousands of pilgrims bundled up below the window to the Apostolic Palace, though as of Friday, the cold has lessened slightly, bringing rainy weather with it.

His attention to the homeless isn’t surprising, as it has been a consistent concern for Francis since the beginning of his pontificate.

Not only did he have showers and a barber service installed in the bathrooms in St. Peter's Square to help the homeless stay clean and tidy, he has invited them to several events in the Vatican, including concerts and tours of the museums, and they have consistently been his special guests for breakfast on his birthday.

Europe

Previous Post

January 15, 2017

If you're tempted to gossip, 'bite your tongue,' Pope Francis says

Next Post

January 16, 2017 Pope sends condolences to Kyrgyz town devastated by plane crash

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a statue of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Hosea Daniel Ezekiel Obadiah