As I gaze at this image of the beautiful bronze statue, which sits outside the showers and Mother of Mercy Clinic in St Peter’s Square, Rome, I see familiar scenes of people crouched on our streets and in shop doorways, barely dressed or shod for the cold and rain and who possibly are homeless.
Here in Rome, our image sits with a rucksack, old over worn clothing and open sandals holding a stick for support. His hand is stretched out either to welcome passers-by to sit with him or for them to offer something – food, money or travel fare. His gestures are calm but at the same time desperate – as if making us stop to look more attentively at his humble state and to react in some way.
If we do sit down with him we will see that we are encountering an angel! Now we are looking at a clean shaven man, with smooth clothing and not a rucksack but wings!
We are reminded of that passage in Hebrews that says:
“Do not neglect to offer hospitality; you know that some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Heb. 13:2).
Our belated Pope Francis had his own message to refugees:
“. . . never lose the hope that you are facing a more secure future, that on your journey you will encounter an outstretched hand, and that you can experience fraternal solidarity and warmth of friendship.” (Pope Francis, Sept 29, 2019, Rome.)
Sometimes we need these reminders as we pass these people on our streets – that outstretched hand may not always mean that we fill it with money or food and walk on – but that we recognise the plight and the causes of such pain and injustice. Just to sit or to take time to greet these people can change their day – as our response will let them know that we see them as they really are:
“people with their humanity.”
Pope Francis has left a lasting legacy to all Pilgrims of Hope this year in St Peter’s Square:
May they see this image as part of their pilgrimage and offer hope to our thousands of homeless people.
