Showers
for homeless by St Peters Square completed
(Vatican Radio) Work has now been completed on the building of
three showers and a barber’s booth for the homeless under the colonnades of St
Peter’s Square. The shower unit was commissioned by Pope Francis after learning
from his Almoner that homeless people in Rome lacked places where to wash
themselves or have their hair cut.
The 3 showers and the
barber’s booth have been installed in an existing lavatory block used by
pilgrims and tourists visiting the Vatican area that was completely refurbished
for this purpose. The showers will be available every day, except on Wednesday
during the Pope’s general audience and when celebrations take place, either in
St Peter’s Basilica or in the Square.
The barber service
will be available on Monday between 9am and 3pm. A number of barbers in
Rome have volunteered to offer their services as well as final-year students
from a hairdressing school in Rome. Sisters from Mother’s Teresa’s
Missionaries of Charity Order will be among those helping to welcome the
homeless who come to use the showers.
Each of the homeless
people using the shower units will receive two free kits, a complete change of
underwear and a kit containing towel, soap, toothpaste and brush, deodorant
plus razor and shaving cream for the men. Many of the articles have been
offered free of charge by various firms and private individuals who have wanted
to show their solidarity with this project. The Pope’s Almoner will be
responsible for purchasing, as needed, future supplies using money raised from
the selling of parchments with a Papal Blessing.
The shower block is
expected to open its doors for Rome’s homeless people very shortly.
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