Pope Will Visit Homeless Shelter in Rome

On Thursday 4 January, Pope Benedict XVI will visit the shelter Colle Oppio run by the Charity of Rome. The Holy Father will dedicate a canteen to the memory of John Paul II, unveil a commemorative plaque and visit a nativity scene built by the Charity volunteers.Foll text of the news in Czech: HERE.

Vatican: The Pope will be accompanied by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, Bishop Ernesto Mandara, auxiliary bishop of Rome, and Charity Director Guerino De Tora. Benedict XVI will greet the people who use the shelter, Charity workers and the young people of the 'Il Centro' youth centre in the same building.

The Colle Oppio shelter was built in 1983 as the first structure for the homeless in Rome. It was run with the help of the city council. During the 23 years, it has sheltered thousands of people and distributed more than 9 million meals.

John Paul II visited the centre on 20 December 1992 and on this occasion he said a sentence 'Suffering man concerns us,' now inscribed on the plaque to be unveiled by Benedict XVI.