On Sunday, August 17th, following Mass at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Rotonda in Albano and the Angelus prayer at Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV will dine with approximately one hundred people experiencing poverty from the Diocese of Albano. The shared meal will take place in the Laudato si’ Village, where all attendees will sit together at one table under gazebos.
“The guests are all eager to speak with him, to share their stories and their difficulties,” stated Alessio Rossi, Director of the Albano Laziale Diocesan Caritas.
Rossi informed Vatican media that the lunch guests will include residents of the Cardinal Pizzardo Shelter for families and minors in Torvaianica, the ‘Francesco’ Dormitory for men and separated fathers in social housing, and the Don Orione Shelter in Anzio. Participants will also come from the Anzio and Nettuno Day Centre and Listening Centre ‘Il Crocicchio’, the Albano Listening Centre (where its daily soup kitchen serves at least thirty people experiencing homelessness), and some beneficiaries of the Caritas counseling centre in Aprilia, which provides psychological support services.
Rossi highlighted significant poverty along the coastal areas of Anzio, Ardea, Tor San Lorenzo, and Torvaianica, noting many homeless individuals, both Italian and foreign, require showers, shaving facilities, laundry services, and overnight shelter. Conversely, in the Castelli Romani area, the primary issue involves “so-called ‘working poor’ families.” These are individuals who, despite being employed, struggle to support their households due to health or employment challenges.
“These families do not make it to the end of the month, as the saying goes,” Rossi explained, “and therefore receive food support from our centres, like the one in Genzano, for example.”
Caritas Albano reported assisting 49,500 individuals (3,580 families) in 2024. Services included distributing over 48,000 meals and more than 4,480 breakfasts within the first ten months of the year. Additionally, 13,000 people received non-food essentials, and 473 individuals accessed medical care at the Caritas clinic.