Friday of Mercy: Pope blesses
‘Palace’ for the Poor
Pope Francis inaugurates the new Night and Day Care Center
for homeless people near St. Peter’s Square, as part of his Friday of Mercy
initiative.
By Devin Watkins
A Palace for the Poor: That’s what Pope Francis blessed on
Friday afternoon, just ahead of the World Day of the Poor.
The 4-storey Vatican property sits in a prestigious location
right off the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square. It still carries the name of the
Roman family that built it in the 1800s: Palazzo Migliori – “Palace of the
Best”.
Acquired by the Vatican in the 1930s, the building was
recently vacated by a congregation of religious sisters.
Pope Francis personally directed his Almoner, Cardinal Konrad
Krajewski, to turn it into a place where the homeless and poor of Rome can
sleep, eat, and learn.
The charitable operation is staffed and run by the
Sant’Egidio Community.
Space for all
In a communique, Cardinal Krajewski described how the palace
is to be used.
The upper two floors are dormitories where around 50 men and
women can sleep, though it is able host more when Roman temperatures plummet
and the need is greater.
Those guests are offered breakfast and supper in the
refectory on the 2nd floor.
Volunteers will also be able to use the kitchen to prepare
hot meals to be distributed in the evenings to the homeless who find shelter at
one of Rome’s train stations.
During the day, the bottom two floors provide space for
volunteers to teach those in need to use the computer. There is also space for
reading, recreation, and psychological counseling.
The construction company that renovated the “Palace of the
Best” employed a group of homeless people – at the Vatican’s urging.
The company was so impressed by their work ethic that it
hired them!
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