The mayor of Rome meets Pope Francis; supports the Caritas campaign

On the same day he had a private meeting with Pope Francis, the mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi on Facebook approved a campaign to help the poor during the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic launched by the Rome office of the Catholic charitable organization Caritas Internationalis.

"With the emergence of the coronavirus, Caritas of Rome was found to give up an important sum on which it relied to help thousands of homeless, migrants and families in difficulty," he said in his post of March 28, noting that The sum of the money in question is equal to the collection of all the coins collected daily by tourists in the famous Trevi Fountain.

In 2005 the Municipality of Rome decided to donate the funds raised by the Trevi Fountain to Caritas, given their charitable work with the poor of the city.

"With the city empty and without many visitors to which we are used, that amount has also failed," said Raggi, observing the accumulated coins last year amounted to a huge total of 1.400.000 euros ($ 1.550.000.)

"This is one of the many side effects of the emergency," said Raggi, urging donors to support the Caritas fundraiser "I want, but I can't", which is raising funds to allow Caritas to convert night shelters into 24 -service offering poor and needy meals, also managing a food distribution service.

Polish cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal advisor responsible for distributing charity on behalf of the pope, recently spoke of the great need homeless people find, as the kitchens and restaurants where they usually go for meals and the handouts are all closed.

In his assignment, Raggi thanked the director of Caritas Roma, Father Benoni Ambarus, “who, like many in the city, continues to work with dedication for the most needy. Together, as a community, we will do it. "

Pope Francis met Raggi on March 28 for a private meeting in the Vatican. It is known that he was mentioned in the Caritas campaign.

The day before, Raggi had praised Pope Francis' unprecedented live streaming prayer service on March 27 for the end of the coronavirus COVID-19, during which Pope Francis had reported that the coronavirus epidemic is a time when " We realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and necessary, we all called to row together, each of us needs to comfort the other. "

He also gave the traditional blessing of Urbi et Orbi, "to the city and to the world", which is usually only given at Christmas and Easter and which offers those who receive it a plenary indulgence, which means full forgiveness of the consequences. storms of sin.

In a Tweet sent after the meeting, Raggi said: “Pope Francis' words are a balm for all of us in this moment of suffering. Rome joins his prayer. We row together in this storm because nobody is saved alone. "

On Monday Pope Francis also met with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte for a private audience in the Vatican.

Both Francis and the Italian bishops urged citizens to adhere to the severe restrictions of the Italian government during the blockade of the coronavirus