Vatican to install showers for homeless

ABOVE: Homeless people in Vatican City will soon benefit from public showers currently under construction in St. Peter’s Square.

VATICAN CITY – Homeless people around the Vatican are getting more than just handouts from charitable passers-by. They’re getting a shower.

The pope’s chief alms-giver, Monsignor Konrad Krajewski, says three showers will be installed in the public restrooms off Bernini’s Colonnade in St. Peter’s Square to cater to homeless men and women.

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Krajewski told La Stampa’s Vatican Insider website that he came up with the idea after meeting a homeless man named Franco.

Krajewski said he offered to take Franco to dinner after learning it was his 50th birthday, but he declined because of his stench. Krajewski said: “I brought him anyway. We had Chinese. While we were at the table, he told me that you can always find something to eat in Rome. But what is missing are places to wash.”