Pope Francis will meet with the poor this Sunday in a visit to the Catholic lay Community of Sant’Egidio, the community announced today.
During his visit, the Holy Father will make contact with the charitable organizations with which the Sant’Egidio Community has been involved for more than 40 years, including schools of peace, helping of the poor, disabled, elderly, immigrants, refugees and the Roma.
The Pope will arrive in the Trastevere part of Rome at 5 p.m., accompanied by professor Andrea Riccardi, the founder of Sant’Egidio, and, on foot, will cross Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere to meet with the faithful and to listen to their greetings and wishes.
In the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, the Holy Father will pay tribute to the icon of Our Lady of Mercy, the oldest existing wooden image of Mary in Rome. He will listen to some testimonies and will personally address the faithful gathered, which is to be followed by a time of prayer.
From there, the 77-year-old Pontiff will walk to the headquarters of the Community of Sant’Egidio, where he will meet the community’s leaders, some bishops, priests and seminarians, the sick and other groups of people. (D.C.L.)
