Pope Francis Laundry Brings Hope and Dignity to The Homeless in Reggio Calabria

Italy, November 28, 2024: On November 27, Pope Francis extended his charitable outreach to the tent city of San Ferdinando in Reggio Calabria, Italy, by inaugurating the seventh "Pope Francis Laundry." The facility, equipped with showers and laundry services, offers free support to impoverished and homeless migrants living in the city, enabling them to maintain personal hygiene and clean their clothes. The initiative, which is supported by Procter & Gamble, Haier Europe, and local diocesan organizations, aims to restore dignity and visibility to marginalized individuals living in San Ferdinando, who are struggling with extreme poverty and bureaucratic obstacles.

“The Pope’s initiative is more than about clean clothes. It’s about restoring the dignity of those who feel invisible,” said Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Papal Almoner, during the inauguration of the facility. The service also includes a mobile “Help Desk” for document assistance, addressing the bureaucratic barriers that keep these migrants from integrating into Italian society. Additional initiatives, such as Italian language classes and barber services, are also being planned at the facility to further aid integration and well-being of these migrants.

San Ferdinando is home to hundreds of African migrants from nations such as Senegal, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Many of these migrants work in the agricultural sector without formal contracts and also lack essential documentation such as identity cards. Cardinal Krajewski emphasized that the "Pope Francis Laundry" addresses a profound need for dignity and recognition for the migrants living in San Ferdinando. “The people living in this city are not dying of hunger but from feeling invisible,” he remarked, sharing the words of a migrant who said, “We need documents. Mopeds have license plates; we have nothing.”

According to Deacon Michele Vomera, director of Caritas for the Oppido Mamertina–Palmi Diocese, hundreds of migrants in San Ferdinando lack access to healthcare, tax identification, and other basic services due to bureaucratic complexities.

The "Pope Francis Laundry" project is a part of broader preparations for the upcoming Jubilee and reflects the Holy Father’s call for acts of mercy worldwide. The project will be managed by volunteers from the Caritas unit of Oppido Mamertina–Palmi Diocese. It is equipped with washing machines and dryers donated by Haier Europe and will be supplied with detergents and cleaning supplies from Procter & Gamble, along with personal hygiene products like Head & Shoulders and Pantene shampoos, and razors and shaving creams from Gillette.

The initiative underscores the vibrant local solidarity in San Ferdinando, where migrants and Italian residents foster peaceful coexistence and mutual support. “This is a sign of hope and humanity,” said Deacon Vomera, highlighting the project's significance for both the migrants and the local community. By addressing hygiene and visibility, the Pope's initiative seeks to reaffirm the inherent dignity of every person and pave the way for a more compassionate society.

Courtesy: Vatican News