Pope Francis Sends a Half Ton of Food to Poor Neighborhood

On March 8, Pope Francis visited the parish of Santa Maria Madre del Redentore, in the poor Roman neighborhood known as Tor Bella Monaca. Now he has sent a thousand pounds of food as well as medicine to the poorest families of the area.

When the Pope visited earlier this month, he noted that “the people of Tor Bella Monaca are good but they have one flaw, the same one that Jesus, Mary and Joseph had: being poor.” The difference, Francis said, “is that Joseph and Jesus had jobs while so many people here can’t even afford to feed their children.”

For this reason, after his visit the Pope decided to send a half ton of food—including tomatoes, canned vegetables, cheese, cereal, and jams—to the local families in need. He sent it through his papal aumoner, Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, or “Don Conrado” as he is affectionately called.

“It was a real surprise when we got the phone call that heralded the arrival of food for the poorest families of the district,” said Lucia Ercoli, director of Solidarity Medicine. “The Pope has not forgotten us and 10 days after his visit to Tor Bella Monaca wanted to give a sign of his closeness to those who are in trouble.”

“We want to thank him from the heart for giving hope to many who live in suffering and isolation,” she said.

Follow Thomas D. Williams on Twitter @tdwilliamsrome.