ROME -- ‘Likely flakes in Rome’ says the weather forecast for this weekend, announcing central and southern Italy can expect a fresh wave of arctic air, bringing with it thunderstorms, rain and snowfall between the Lazio, Molise and Campania regions.

 The mornings will see snow up in the plains of Tuscany and Lazio, with likely snowfall in the Eternal City too. It seems the cold is set to continue, and even worsen.

 In response to the recent icy grip which has taken hold of the Italian capital, the Vatican have opened the doors of the San Callisto Church to welcome in the homeless who would otherwise be sleeping rough out in the treacherous conditions.

  The Trastevere church has been kitted out with beds and blankets, accommodating 30, providing shelter for those in need from 8p.m to 8.a.m. The initiative is supported by the Rome-based religious community of Sant’Egidio.

 This plan follows recent reports of numerous deaths by pneumonia of those out on the streets in various Italian cities this January.

 The Italian Red Cross are working hard in Rome to tackle the situation in the wake of the latest death of a homeless 54-year-old Italian woman.

 The mayor of the Eternal City, Virginia Raggi, said she is "very sorry" for the news, adding, "Since December we established a plan for the cold which served to accommodate all who live on the streets in Rome. We have increased the capacity of the structures in place, opened metro stations and at the end of last year we were glad to have found another 50 places for the homeless. But we were also saddened because we still did not have enough for the tens or hundreds or thousands of others.”

 Raggi then turned to discuss the culpability of the government in Italy's high poverty levels, claiming, “The government has found even in just 24 hours over 20 billion euros to save a bank whilst it has failed for years now to approve a basic income level, a proposal of the Five Star Movement, which would be funded with 17 billion euros already covered (…) We need the government’s approval on the basic income because it is an issue of poverty (…) Poverty is increasing, income is crucial. The phrase ‘no one can stay behind’ should be endorsed by all. Our commitment is high, but if the government does not help then it is all in vain.”

 sw