Bro. Kevin sees trip as a boost for the forgotten
ChaiBrady and Colm Fitzpatrick
The decision by Pope Francis to spend part of his trip to Ireland with homeless people will shed a light on those being left behind by the economic recovery, campaigners in the frontline have said.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul has warned that disadvantaged people are continuing to be left behind as the country’s economy improves. SVP hopes the Pontiff’s visit to Ireland will highlight the need for the Government to prioritise the needs of those who have been left behind.
“The people who were affected most by the recession are in the group that are slowest to benefit from the improvements in the economy – we are seeing this on a constant basis,” the SVP’s Kieran Stafford told The Irish Catholic.
Mr Stafford said there is very “graphic evidence of frontline poverty in Ireland” that can be seen in the capital every day of the week, and that Pope Francis’ visit to the Capuchin Day Centre in August as part of his trip for the World Meeting of Families will highlight this.
“I certainly think that the Pontiff’s visit will shine a light on the disadvantaged and the people who are most acutely affected by poverty in our country,” Mr Stafford said.
SVP’s pre-budget submission released this week outlined several measures to tackle the “poverty trap” many families and individ-uals are caught in.
Of the 130,000 calls they received last year, a third were related to food poverty in particular.
Founder of the Capuchin Day Centre, Bro. Kevin Crowley OFM Cap. – who has been working with those experiencing homelessness for decades – told The Irish Catholic that all the users of his service are “very excited” for the Papal visit to the centre, which was confirmed this week.
Privilege
“It’s an absolute privilege that the Holy Father, is giving his time to visit – I feel it shows great respect and great concern for them [service users],” he said.
He added that “it shows that he has a great love for the homeless and unprivileged people”. Bro. Kevin said 80 people experiencing homelessness will be present for the Pontiff’s visit. During the encounter, which will be private, Francis is expected to share a meal as well as listen to the experiences of homelessness of those present.
While not on the official schedule released by the Vatican this week, it is also expected that Francis will meet with those who have experienced abuse by priests and religious. It is also thought that a visit to a prison is also under consideration.