By Verghese V Joseph –
In a letter addressed to journalists, volunteers and sellers of street newspapers, who are experiencing great difficulties in this moment of health emergency – the Covid-19 pandemic, the Holy Father expressed his solidarity with them.
Pope Francis said the lives of millions of people, in the world already grappling with so many challenges difficult to face and oppressed by the pandemic, has changed and is being put to the test. The most fragile people, the invisible, homeless people risk paying the heaviest bill.
“So I want to say hello to the world of street newspapers and especially their vendors who are mostly homeless, seriously marginalized, unemployed people: thousands of people all over the world live and have a job thanks to the sale of these extraordinary newspapers,” he said.
“In Italy I think of the good experience of Scarp de ‘tenis, the Caritas project that allows more than 130 people in difficulty to have an income and with it access to fundamental citizenship rights. Not only. I am thinking of the experience of over 100 street newspapers around the world, which are published in 35 different countries and in 25 different languages and which guarantee work and income for more than 20,500 homeless people in the world,” the Pope said.
“Street newspapers have not been sold for many weeks and their vendors cannot work. So I want to express my closeness to journalists, volunteers, people who live thanks to these projects and who in these times are working with many innovative ideas. The pandemic has made your job difficult but I am sure that the large network of street newspapers in the world will return stronger than before. Look to the poorest these days it can help all of us to become aware of what is really happening to us and our true condition. To all of you my message of encouragement and fraternal friendship. Thanks for the work you do, for the information you give and for the stories of hope you tell,” the Holy Father added.