Construction of public showers for the homeless at the Vatican has begun under the order of Pope Francis, according to Vatican Insider.
The showers are being built within the restrooms located near the historic Basilica. Work on the facilities started on Nov. 17.
Pope Francis approved the addition of the showers after learning about Papal Almoner Bishop Konrad Krajewski's interaction with one of Rome's homeless individuals.
In October, Bishop Krajewski met Franco, a homeless man from Sardinia.
"I had just come out of the Church of the Holy Spirit, where I go to hear confessions," Bishop Krajewski recalled. "In the Via della Conciliazione I met Franco, a homeless man. He told me that he was turning fifty that day and that he had been living on the street for ten years."
On the day of their meeting, Franco told him that it was his 50th birthday. To celebrate, the Papal Almoner invited his new friend to dine with him at local restaurant. However, Franco declined because he hasn't bathed in years, International Business Times reported.
"Father, I can't go to the restaurant with you because I smell," Franco told him.
Despite Franco's hesitation, the bishop still invited him to dinner and learned about one of the major problems experience by the homeless in Rome.
"I took him with me nonetheless," Bishop Krajewski said. "We went to a Chinese restaurant. During dinner, he explained to me that you can always find some food in Room. What is missing is places to wash."
Through soup kitchens organized by local parishes and charitable organizations, Franco noted that obtaining food is not a problem for the homeless. They are more concerned with finding places where they can properly wash and clean their selves.
Immediately after learning about the condition of the homeless, Bishop Krajewski spoke with the Pope to address the issue.
Aside from the showers being built at the Vatican, 10 other parishes have already opened similar public facilities as instructed by the Papal Almoner.
