Pope Francis at lunch with the poor of Rome

Pope Francis enjoyed lunch with about 1300 people in Paul VI Hall after the Sunday Mass on the sixth World Day of the Poor.

The Dicastery for Evangelization organized the special lunch with assistance from Caritas Italy and the St. Egidio Community. Italian company d'Amico Società di Navigazione sponsored the meals.

The local Catholic charity of Italy, Caritas Italiana reported there are 5.6 million people living in poverty in Italy, among them, 1.4 million are children. 

The annual lunch was organized on the World Day of the Poor observed on the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time every year.  

This World Day aims to encourage Christians to “go forth” to the people with economic and existential struggles and to serve as “a sign of love, the love shown by Jesus himself.”

On the same day, a mobile health clinic was opened in St. Peter's Square to provide health services for those who cannot access medical care.

This healthcare service returned after two years global pandemic with the help of some volunteers and some sponsored Companies.

The mobile clinic in St. Peter's Square provides medical checkups and medicines, including screening and treatments for HIV, hepatitis, and tuberculosis.

As another help, 5,000 poor families are provided Food parcels via the network of parishes in Rome.

Italy's Elite Supermarket chain donated food basics for households totaling some 10 tons of pasta, 5 tons of rice, flour, sugar, salt, and coffee, and five thousand litres of oil and milk.

Italy's insurance group, UnipolSai Assicurazioni offered the payments of gas and electric bills to those who cannot afford high energy bills due to rapid inflation in recent months. - With inputs from Vatican News