杏MAP导航

There was great celebration on Friday in the Vatican when some 280 poor people were invited to a dinner by new Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the official almsgiver of the 杏MAP导航, who was made cardinal by 杏MAP导航 Francis at the Consistory the previous day, June 28^th.

The 杏MAP导航's surprise visit

杏MAP导航 Francis surprised Cardinal Krajewski, his guests and volunteers with a visit and joined them at table at the Vatican employees鈥� canteen.  "I came for the poor, not for you," a smiling 杏MAP导航 told Cardinal Krajewski, popularly known as Fr. Corrado (instead of Konrad) to the poor he serves on behalf of the 杏MAP导航.

The Holy Father dined with the poor and spent about two hours chatting with them as if in a family, listening to their stories that often told of suffering but also of hope.

Volunteers of Sant鈥橢gidio

There were about 60 volunteers serving dinner to the poor, including Carlo Santoro of the Community of Sant'Egidio of Rome, who collaborates with Cardinal Krajewki鈥檚 Office of Papal Charities, to assist the homeless in Rome.  

"It was a specially warm visit because it was a dinner of the new cardinal with the poor,鈥� Santoro said.  鈥淭o the surprise of all, the Holy Father arrived. We thought it was a simple greeting and he would be off soon,鈥� he said.  The new cardinal turned to Santoro asking him to make room close to him for the 杏MAP导航. 

Santoro said the 杏MAP导航 greeted everyone with great affection.  At the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 table were several Syrian refugees who had arrived through the efforts of  the Sant'Egidio Community.  One of them travelled to Rome with the 杏MAP导航 after his visit to the Greek island of Lesbos on April 16, 2016.  The man told the 杏MAP导航 he is now working and is integrated in Italy.

Talking with refugees

Santoro heard the 杏MAP导航 saying that several times in recent months he has met refugees from Lebanon and was struck by the fact that children were the first to speak Italian.  For the 杏MAP导航, integration is fundamental which is not just welcome.  Where there is no job, the 杏MAP导航 said, there is no integration because without job there is no future.  

Santoro said that at the table there was another refugee who narrated to the 杏MAP导航 how he arrived in Italy.  It was an 11-month journey through the desert, a journey full of dangers and pitfalls.  He has been in Italy for some years and he too has been integrated.

Another guest from Senegal, a Muslim, told him that this was the third time at a meal with the 杏MAP导航.    He had been with both 杏MAP导航 John Paul II and 杏MAP导航 Benedict XVI for lunch, and this was the third time. 杏MAP导航 Francis jokingly told him, 鈥淢ake a collection of 杏MAP导航s!鈥�

The 杏MAP导航's neighbours

Santoro said that they introduced to the 杏MAP导航 some of the homeless who sleep around St. Peter鈥檚 Square at night and collaborate with them every day.  Santoro said the 杏MAP导航 was very affectionate to his neighbours.  Cardinal Krajeswki explained to the 杏MAP导航 that they collaborate a lot such as for the funeral of someone who dies in the streets.   

杏MAP导航's worry for children in Texas

The volunteer of Sant鈥橢gidio Community noted the 杏MAP导航 was touched by and enjoyed the presence of children around him.  The 杏MAP导航 blessed a Syrian baby girl, born a few months ago, who was baptized on June 28.  Talking with the volunteers, the Holy Father expressed his worry over the issue of children being separated from their mothers in Texas, United States. 

The 杏MAP导航 repeated that Europe was on the verge of suicide because by not accepting immigrants and not having children gave the continent no hope for the future.  He noted this worrying trend in other parts of the world, particularly in the US.

Ex-prisoners, alcoholics

Santoro, the Sant鈥橢gidio Community volunteer said the 杏MAP导航 also talked to some former prisoners, repeating something that he has often said: 鈥淏ut why not me?鈥�, meaning he could have been in their shoes. 

When the volunteers told 杏MAP导航 Francis the story of a homeless, alcoholic man, the Holy Father said, 鈥淎lcohol could affect any of us because it's an evil that kidnaps you, an evil that doesn't leave you, it's an evil that you can only get out of with the help of others.鈥�  Our problem, even as a Church, is to help people come out of difficult situations and do so together, the 杏MAP导航 said.

Poor helping poor

The Holy Father was very moved to hear that many homeless people help the volunteers help others like them.  The 杏MAP导航 heard how during severe cold snap early this year, many a homeless helped in distributing blankets.