Pope Francis continues his pledge to assist the poor by holding a raffle for gifts he has received and using the money to help the less-fortunate.
Last year, the pope spent the holidays handing out 2,000 envelopes carrying free public transportation passes and telephone cards. This year, he is exercising generosity once again by gathering various gifts he has been sent and holding a raffle to give them away. Some of these objects include a Fiat city car, watches, Homero Ortega hat, and a coffee machine, according to Reuters. The money earned from the raffle will go toward helping the poor.
Posters found at the Vatican detailed the give-away and stated there will be 13 items raffled and 30 “consolation prizes” The tickets will be sold at 10 euros, the equivalent of $12.50.
Pope Francis, whose papacy began last March, has dedicated much of his time to serving poverty-stricken people. Last year, the pope was reportedly caught sneaking out of the Vatican at nightfall dressed as a priest to minister to homeless citizens. He also invited 200 of the area’s homeless to dinner in his Vatican residence. Not long after becoming pope, he spoke out on his frustration with the public’s lack of concern for the impoverished.
“How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?”