Rome: The Church of the Stigmata of St. Francis, though there are over 900 Catholic churches in Rome, is different. It is noteworthy that the parish priest has a well-equipped team of 8 to 10 people to help the needy at any time of the week. The church’s only specialty is the dormitory, which can accommodate up to 30 people for the poor and the homeless, a spacious lounge and free breakfast for about 200 people.
The project was inaugurated by Angelo de Donatis, Cardinal Vicar of Rome, and Carlos Osoro, Cardinal of Madrid. Pope Francis has written a letter to the inauguration of the project. In his letter, the pope congratulated and thanked the closed mosques for saying they were similar to a museum. Roberta, one of the church’s volunteers, told online Catholic news portal Crux that the project was not just for the poor.
Whenever you come in at night, you can see someone praying here, not all of them are homeless. Some of them have come to seek God. Hope they can see God here. They can find someone who says nothing but comforting faces with a smiling face. Roberta added. It was Fr. Paul who took the initiative to say that all those who come in late are not coming to rest but those who pray. Says Garcia.
He added that such schemes are a clear sign that not everyone in the community is sick. Located in Rome’s historic site near Pantheon and Piazza Navona, the church is run by Fr. Angel Garcia is a Spanish Catholic NGO founded in 1962 by Mensajeros de la Pas (messengers of peace). The Church of the Stigmata of St. Francis provides new hope for the homeless in Rome.
