ARCHIVE PHOTO: Pope Francis conducts Mass on Christmas Eve in St. Peter’s Basilica amid the pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Vatican on December 24, 2020. Vincenzo Pinto / Pool via REUTERS
January 25, 2021
By Philip Pullella
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis on Sunday asked the Romans to help the homeless in the Italian capital after an increase in the number of people dying of cold.
Speaking of his midday blessing, Francis told the story of Edwin, a 46-year-old Nigerian who died exposed to fire near St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday.
“His story joins that of others who recently died in Rome in the same dramatic circumstances. Let’s pray for Edwin, ”said Francis.
Charity group Sant ‘Egidio said Edwin was at least the fourth homeless person to die of cold in the city this year and on the 10th since November.
“Think of Edwin, think of what this 46-year-old man felt in the cold, ignored by everyone, abandoned even by us. Let us pray for him, ”said the pope.
Sant ‘Egidio and other groups scour the streets of Rome to direct the homeless to shelters and distribute blankets and food.
They asked city officials to open metro stations at night.
The Vatican and its related charities run facilities, including night shelters, bathing places, popular kitchens and a clinic.
The 84-year-old pope gave the speech while in the Vatican library, despite a new outbreak of sciatica that causes pain in his legs and forced him to miss three events on Sunday and Monday.
Francisco had scheduled a Mass on Sunday morning and a Vespers service on Monday. Both require the main celebrant to stand for long periods. He also postponed his annual speech to the diplomatic corps, scheduled for Monday.
It was the second time this month that he missed events because of the outbreak.
(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)