Friday, December 29, 2006

POPE BENEDICT TO VISIT CARITAS SHELTER IN ROME

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2006 (VIS) - On January 4, 2007 the Holy Father is scheduled to visit a shelter run by the diocesan Caritas of Rome on the city's Colle Oppio, according to a communique released by the Vicariate of Rome.

  During the pastoral visit, the Pope will dedicate a canteen to the memory of John Paul II, unveiling a commemorative plaque. He will also visit a nativity scene built by the Caritas volunteers.

  The Holy Father - who will be accompanied by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, his vicar general for the diocese of Rome, Bishop Ernesto Mandara, auxiliary of Rome for the central area, and Msgr. Guerino Di Tora, director of Caritas - will greet the people who use the shelter, Caritas workers and the young people of the "Il Centro" youth center, which is based in the same building.

  The Colle Oppio shelter was the first structure for homeless people to be established in Rome, founded in 1983 and run with the help of the city council. Over the last 23 years it has welcomed thousands of people, both Italians and non-Italians, and distributed more than nine million meals.

  John Paul II visited the center on December 20, 1992, when he pronounced the phrase "suffering man concerns us," now inscribed on the plaque to be unveiled by Benedict XVI.
BXVI-VISIT/CARITAS SHELTER/ROME                    VIS 20061229 (230)

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