ROME — As construction for the 2025 Jubilee enhances Italy's historic monuments, a surge of initiatives is emerging to support those most in need. While one-tenth of the country's population lives in absolute poverty, coordinated efforts from government, religious organizations, and local communities are gaining momentum to address this challenge.

 According to the recently released Caritas 2024 Poverty Report, which reports that one-tenth of Italians are now living in poverty, with no signs of decline. But with the Holy Year around the corner, unprecedented support is mobilizing to provide much-needed assistance.

 The relationship with the Vatican is evolving to strengthen these efforts, experts say. "The Vatican plays a vital role," says Roma Tre University political science professor Claudia Mariotti. "However, its strong presence can inadvertently reduce state responsibility, framing poverty as a matter of charity rather than systemic inequality, and potentially limiting structural policy responses."

 As described by the Caritas report, two of the most important social-welfare policies - the Lease Fund and Inculpable Default Fund - have no longer been refinanced in the past two years. Additionally, new support policies including the Inclusion Allowance and Support for Training and Work measures are making receiving aid more difficult, halving the number of families reached due to the new specific criteria. 

Government and Church Response

 In past years, the fight against poverty and homelessness seemed to have fallen lower down in the rankings of the political agenda.

 In fact, “the pact between the economic system and the social system had been broken,” says sociologist Fabio Lo Verde. “Social vulnerability was increasing in general, in the absence of security in terms of economic, health, and even housing.” 

 More recently though, the Italian Parliament responded with unprecedented measures. A groundbreaking healthcare bill, passed by the Senate in October, extends free medical care to homeless individuals and those living in extreme poverty.  This new healthcare bill is a key piece of legislation in securing basic health needs, and is just the first step in allocating more resources to help this population get back on their feet. 

 Meanwhile, the Catholic church also recently mobilized considerable resources. Pope Francis’ Day of the Poor on November 17th called attention to the homelessness crisis by blessing 13 keys to support the “13 Houses” project to aid housing worldwide. The Pope also launched a series of local initiatives extended throughout the rest of the year like free lunches and medical care. 

Community Solutions

 Local communities are also developing innovative responses to these issues. In Naples, a “suspended shopping” program allows customers to pre-pay for essential items that those in need can collect later - an adaptation of the city’s famous “suspended coffee” tradition. 

 Today also “Rome has amazing grassroots organizations like Sant’Egidio or Caritas and volunteers, who are incredibly active, creating meaningful connections with people in need” says Sara Giacani, a Roman local. “That said, the support can feel fragmented and heavily reliant on private or faith-based initiatives. A stronger, city-wide network that aligns community efforts with public resources could be transformative.”

Looking Forward

 As Italy grapples with this growing crisis, experts emphasize the need for long-term solutions alongside emergency measures. The government has pledged to increase social spending by 12% in the coming year, while the Church is expanding its year-round support programs. 

 “The city’s beauty and global reputation should extend to how it treats its most vulnerable residents,” says Ms. Giacani. “Addressing homelessness more effectively would not only improve Rome’s image, but also its soul,  making it a place where everyone can thrive - not just its visitors.”

 With all eyes on Rome for the upcoming Jubilee, this is the biggest opportunity to raise the most awareness on this ever-critical situation. With the emergence of new legislation and community bonds and solutions, there is hope for this community. The true test will be whether these initiatives can evolve into lasting change for Italy’s most vulnerable citizens. 

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