FRANCIS – MESSAGE AND MESSENGER. Pope Francis decided to celebrate his 78th birthday with a gesture of love and solidarity with the poorest of Rome. The Argentinean Pontiff had 400 sleeping bags distributed among the homeless of the city to help them cope with the harsh Roman winter’s temperatures.
According to the report given by the Press Office of the Holy See, the sleeping bags were embroidered with the pontifical coat of arms, and they were distributed with the help of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, some religious, guided by Pope Francis’ alms giver, Archbishop Konrad Krajewski.
“Approximately 300 to 400 sleeping bags have been distributed. We have given one to every homeless person whom we encountered,” Father Ciro Benedittii, vice director of the Holy See’sPress Office explained to a journalist on December 18th.
The Pope’s helpers used a van to distribute the gifts, and they traveled the streets close to the train stations and the “summer” cemetery, areas usually frequented by the city’s indigents.
“This is a gift for you, we ask you to pray for the Pope”
“This is a gift for you; we ask you to pray for the Pope,” they told each personwho was helped.
Pope Francis’ surprise for the most forgotten ended at 11:00 p.m. Rome time, and the Vatican disseminated the news the following day to avoid photos and journalists.
When night falls over the Eternal City, it is typical to find cardboard on its streets withwhich the “homeless” use to try to resist the cold and dampness underneath.
Probably, with this “caress” from the Pope, the night of December17th was a little more bearable for these people, who usually live in loneliness and away from their families.
Source: Aciprensa
Original: Spanish – Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA
