change language
you are in: home - news newslettercontact uslink

Support the Community

  
February 9 2015 | ROME, ITALY

Pope Francis makes surprise visit to shantytown on outskirts of Rome and meets homeless friends of Sant'Egidio

 
printable version

Sunday, February 8, Francis Pope visited the parish of Pietralata, a historic district of the Roman suburbs. Before coming to church, he stopped in a settlement of shacks, home to immigrants from Latin America, Ukrainian and other poor people, where friends of the Community of Sant'Egidio, who visits them regularly, bringing them food, blankets and warm of friendship. The unexpected visit of the pope sparked an overwhelming joy. Among the shacks has prayed the Lord's Prayer in Spanish, in a small circle, almost embraced the pope.

Papa Francesco a Pietralata  incontra amici di sant'egidio senza dimoraLater visiting the parish, the Pope has stopped to all: people from the neighborhood kids, and even a group of homeless people living in the surrounding area of the parish. Even they are friends of Sant'Egidio. Twice a week, in the Pietralata and Tiburtina, community groups bring dinner to the homeless. There is a shower bath service, having Christmas lunch together for some years.

The meeting was touching. Some of them knelt before Pope Francis, asking his forgiveness for the hard life they have led.

The pope told them: "Thank you for your generosity, for your patience, thanks for not turning off and hope for the testimony which carried out in solitude, the cross.

 

Many times, the fact that people do not know your name and calls you "the homeless", ye bear it ... this is your cross. But there is something in the heart of you: the Holy Spirit. We see the fire, then we see the ashes and we think that everything is over, there's nothing left but if it is a bit 'of wind, if we make a gesture on the ashes, is the focus. Inside many ashes of suffering and loneliness is the fire of the Holy Spirit, is the embrace of God's love.

Because the Lord allows this cross?

He allowed his son first and Jesus understands me and I understand you well and in my poverty ... ..with all my heart I am close now and bless the Father, the Father of us all. "

At the end, after having blessed the poor and their friends, Pope Francis ask to pray for him.

Waiting for pope Francis


 ALSO READ
• NEWS
November 25 2017

Thanksgiving with the poor in New York

IT | EN | ES | FR | PT
October 10 2017

On 15th World Day Against the Death Penalty let us visit the poorest convicts in Africa

IT | EN | DE | ID
September 10 2017
MÜNSTER, GERMANY

Pope Francis at the meeting "Paths of Peace": "to overcome the ignorance in front of war and violence. Europe should be more open and united"

IT | EN | ES | DE | PT | NL
August 1 2017
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA

The Saturday night of Pretoria's Sant'Egidio youth with the poor: story of a contagious solidarity

IT | EN | FR | ID
July 10 2017
MOSCOW, RUSSIA

Summer of solidarity: Moscow's elderly in vacation with homeless friends. WATCH THE PHOTOGALLERY

IT | EN | ES | DE | FR | CA
April 22 2017
ROME, ITALY

Pope Francis' prayer in memory of the martyrs of our time. Photogallery of the visit

IT | EN | ES | DE | FR | PT | HU
all the news
• PRESS
February 26 2018
Avvenire

Emergenza freddo. Rifugi e parrocchie aperte ai senza dimora

February 26 2018
Avvenire

Emergenza freddo. Rifugi e parrocchie aperte ai senza dimora

February 24 2018
La Repubblica - Ed. Roma

Roma, Burian: arriva il gelo dalla Siberia. "Subito più letti per i clochard”

February 24 2018
Vatican Insider

Maltempo, Sant’Egidio: non lasciamo soli i senza dimora

February 24 2018
Il Sole 24 ore

Emergenza freddo, S. Egidio: non lasciamo soli i senza dimora

February 24 2018
Avvenire

A spasso per Milano aiutando l'Africa

the entire press review
• NO DEATH PENALTY
September 24 2015

Pope Francis calls on Congress to end the death penalty. "Every life is sacred", he said

go to no death penalty
• DOCUMENTS

Intervista a Papa Francesco in occasione del viaggio apostolico in Svezia

La guida "Dove mangiare, dormire, lavarsi a Napoli e in Campania" 2016

La Comunità di Sant'Egidio e i poveri in Liguria - report 2015

Sintesi, Rapporti, Numeri e dati sulle persone senza dimora a Roma nel 2015

Guida DOVE Mangiare, dormire, lavarsi - Roma 2016

all documents