Friday, March 29, AD 2024 3:30am

The Church Loves The Homeless And Will Not Abandon Them

Pope Benedict visits a local shelter in Rome and is moved to tears by woman who was once homeless and is now helping others with the same plight.

Here is the complete text of the above YouTube video:

Workers, volunteers and those who are served at  homeless shelter in Rome, were filled with joy by Pope Benedict XVI’s visit.

But it was the pope who was moved to tears while listening to what this woman had to say about over coming homelessness.

“When I got to the hostel I was desperate, but now I’m a changed person.”

She got help and after being rehabilitated she wanted to help others in her shoes and is now a volunteer at the shelter.

During the pope’s visit to Don Luigi di Liegro shelter he affirmed the Church’s commitment to helping the poor.

Papa Bene:

“The Church loves you deeply and will not abandon you.”

But before his address, the pope blessed a commemorative plaque, was presented with a mutilated crucifix and toured the facilities, including the health center, hostel and pharmacy.

The pope’s visit took place during the “European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.” Caritas, the NGO that runs the shelter has simultaneously launched a “zero poverty” which encourages governments to tackle the root causes of poverty.

The pope called for all to recognize themselves as members of a single human family.

Papa Bene:

“I would like to encourage not only Catholics, but every man of good will, especially those who have responsibility in public administration and the different institutions, to commit themselves to the building of a future worthy of man.”

According to Caritas, despite the number of wealthy countries in Europe, there are seventy-nine million people in Europe living below the poverty line. Nineteen million of whom are children.

_._

YouTube video and text courtesy of Rome Reports.

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Foxfier
Thursday, February 18, AD 2010 11:01am

I hate to ask, but…who sets up the poverty line? I grew up well below the poverty line in the 80s and 90s, but we lived very comfortably and my folks didn’t go into debt.

I’m all for helping out folks who really need help, I’d just rather not encourage envy from folks that just don’t have lots.

Tito Edwards
Thursday, February 18, AD 2010 2:21pm

Probably some well meaning social worker who believes that not being able to afford a cafe latte and drive a prius is considered the poverty threshold.

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