Pope Francis to open Jubilee 'holy door' at homeless hostel

(ANSA) - Rome, September 15 - Pope Francis is set to open the "Holy door of charity" at a hostel near Rome's Termini station on December 18 as part of plans for the special Jubilee year he has dedicated to mercy.
    The hostel, run by the Catholic charity Caritas, has welcomed the homeless, poor and immigrants for 25 years.
    After an official opening ceremony, Pope Francis will visit the soup kitchen in the hostel, which is due to reopen in November following a period of renovation work which will allow it to host 180 homeless people.
    "Over recent years this hostel has been the meeting place which is closest to poverty and marginalisation, where the Christian community has found a space to share and socialise with marginalised brothers," said Caritas.
    Other "holy doors" will be opened at Rome's four principal basilicas and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love. "Doors of Mercy" will also be opened around the world to mark the Jubilee year, which is due to run from December 8 until November 2016.
    Monsignor José Octavio Ruiz Arenas, secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation, said the full list would soon be up on the Jubilee website www.im.va.
    He said his council had also received hundreds of requests from priests around the world to be "missionaries of mercy" who will help their parishes through confessions in the Jubilee year.
    Meanwhile Rome Councillor Maurizio Pucci reaffirmed on Tuesday that the city would have all infrastructure in place to be ready to host the event from December 8. http://popefrancisnewsapp.com/