Pope Francis is set to open
the "Holy door of charity" at a hostel near Rome's Termini
station on December 18 as part of plans for the special Jubilee
year he has dedicated to mercy.
The hostel, run by the Catholic charity Caritas, has
welcomed the homeless, poor and immigrants for 25 years.
After an official opening ceremony, Pope Francis will visit
the soup kitchen in the hostel, which is due to reopen in
November following a period of renovation work which will allow
it to host 180 homeless people.
"Over recent years this hostel has been the meeting place
which is closest to poverty and marginalisation, where the
Christian community has found a space to share and socialise
with marginalised brothers," said Caritas.
Other "holy doors" will be opened at Rome's four principal
basilicas and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love.
"Doors of Mercy" will also be opened around the world to
mark the Jubilee year, which is due to run from December 8 until
November 2016.
Monsignor José Octavio Ruiz Arenas, secretary of the
Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation,
said the full list would soon be up on the Jubilee website
www.im.va.
He said his council had also received hundreds of requests
from priests around the world to be "missionaries of mercy" who
will help their parishes through confessions in the Jubilee
year.
Meanwhile Rome Councillor Maurizio Pucci reaffirmed on
Tuesday that the city would have all infrastructure in place to
be ready to host the event from December 8.
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