Today, Friday 25 October, saw the opening of the “Pope Francis Laundry and Shower Service” in Genoa. This is a free-of-charge service offered to people in dire need, especially the homeless. On the premises in Piazza Durazzo 12, managed by the “Comunità di Sant’Egidio Liguria”, such people will be able to wash, dry and iron their clothing and bed linen and also attend to their personal care in the showers. The initiative came in response to Pope Francis’s ’s invitation to render “practical” the experience of grace of the Jubilee of Mercy.
The laundry and shower service will be run by the Comunità di Sant’Egidio Liguria together with other services that look after the most needy. On the premises specially fitted out for this service there will be washing machines, dryers and irons donated by Whirlpool EMEA, in line with its Corporate Giving Policy, which also contributed to the opening of the “Pope Francis Laundry” in Rome in 2017.
The service was inaugurated in the presence of the Apostolic Almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Maurizio Scala, Community of Sant’Egidio, Riccardo Calvi, Head of Institutional Communication, Procter & Gamble Italy, and Karim Bruneo, Senior Manager Corporate Affairs, Whirlpool EMEA.