Pope Francis has urged the diocese of Rome to address the growing housing crisis in the Eternal City, particularly as the Holy Year celebrations in 2025 approach. In a letter to the city's church leaders and religious order priests, the Pope called for church properties to be utilized to assist the homeless and residents facing potential eviction due to escalating rental prices.
The Vatican finds itself in a paradoxical situation as preparations for the Holy Year are expected to draw over 30 million pilgrims to Rome, leading to a surge in demand for short-term apartment rentals, especially in proximity to the Vatican. This heightened demand has exacerbated the trend of local residents being displaced or priced out as property owners opt for short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, a phenomenon not unique to Rome but also observed in other Italian cities such as Florence and Venice, as well as across Europe, prompting protests from local communities.
In his communication, Pope Francis acknowledged the efforts of Rome’s Catholic institutions in providing accommodation for the millions of pilgrims expected during the jubilee. However, he called on them to demonstrate 'a courageous gesture of love' towards Romans by offering any available unused housing or apartments to alleviate the housing crisis.
The Catholic Church, a significant property owner in Rome, possesses a diverse real estate portfolio that includes commercial and residential properties, as well as church-owned convents and monasteries. The Pope's appeal seeks to encourage these diocesan entities to contribute to addressing the housing emergency through acts of charity and solidarity, aiming to instill hope in the numerous individuals in Rome facing precarious housing situations.
