POLLYWOOD Jean-Marie and Raul Fernandez
Debbi Jarvis and Sheila Johnson Pope Francis WL EXCLUSIVE
POPE FRANCIS VISITS CATHOLIC CHARITIES St. Patrick’s Catholic Church | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL
Mary Hopkins with Karen and Chris Donatelli
SYMBOLIC VISIT: After stops at The White House and Capitol Hill to call on leaders to fight income inequality and climate destruction, Pope Francis climbed into his small Fiat and was driven to St. Patrick’s Church, the oldest Catholic parish in the city. Greeted by a choir, the Pope stopped in to bless lunch with about 300 homeless, immigrant and other low-income clients of Catholic Charities. Pope Francis also greeted top givers of Catholic Charities, but spent most of his time with those he said must be given hope, including people like William Smith, an addict who told The Pope he once lived in cardboard boxes, and Latisha Bussie, a recovering alcoholic now getting her college degree. “The fight against poverty and hunger must be fought constantly and on many fronts,” the Pope said. Catholic Charities’ 12 employees prepare 1,900 meals each week for senior citizens under a contract with the District of Columbia Office on Aging, and also cook meals for poor and homeless people around the city under the St. Maria’s Meals program, including 400 people who show up Wednesday evenings outside of Catholic Charities’ headquarters near Chinatown
Katie and Matt Stanton with Austin Herndon, Susan Lacz and Mary Donatelli
Laura and Billy Kappaz with Chaffi Kapaz and Ralph Fairbanks
Michael and Andrea Steele
Catholic Charities’ President Msgr. John Enzler with kids of donors and those receiving services. 38
A client of Catholic Charities
EJ Dionne
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
Pope Francis hugs a child
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