A homeless woman has given birth near St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican will be offering hospitality.
Today, director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, briefed journalists on the Maria Claudia, a 36-year-old Romanian woman, who gave birth to a little girl last night at 2 a.m. on the sidewalk of Piazza Pio XII.
The woman was brought to the nearby Hospital of Santo Spirito, where Papal Almoner, Msgr. Konrad Krajeswski, paid a special visit.
Father Lombardi shared these details with journalists and assured that the mom and daughter are doing well.
The Vatican spokesman also stressed that they will be offered, on behalf of the Pope, accommodation for one year at the home for unwed mothers run by the Sisters of Mother Teresa in Rome’s Primavalle.
Last night, Vatican police responded very quickly, arriving promptly to help the mother and Irene, the baby girl. An officer covered the baby with his jacket, to keep her safe and warm. Shortly after, the ambulance arrived to bring mother and daughter to the nearby Santo Spirito Hospital.
In the past, Maria Claudia had been invited to find shelter in the dormitories the Vatican recently opened to give some 34 homeless a place to sleep.
However, she always refused the offer, only making use of the showers and other services the Holy Father made available for the Vatican’s homeless.
