While visiting a refugee center in Rome yesterday, Pope Francis called upon religious institutions around the world to use their empty convents to house the poor, not for turning into hotels or other profit-making enterprises.

La Stampa is reporting that the pope made the comments during a visit to Centro Astalli, a refugee center in Rome that assists refugees and undocumented migrants from around the world who are fleeing conflicts.

Francis arrived at the center in a blue Ford Focus with no escorts or secretary and visited with refugees who were waiting for meals. He spent a few moments in prayer in the Center's chapel, then addressed a group of 250 volunteers who work in four shelters run by the Jesuit Refugee Service.

“What does it mean to serve? Service means welcoming a person who arrives and showing them attention; it means stretching a helping hand out to those who need it, without hesitations, without fear, but showing tenderness and understanding, just as Jesus bent down to wash the feet of the apostles,” he said.

“Serving means working alongside the needy, establishing human relationships and close ties of solidarity with them,” the Pope said. "Solidarity is a word that scares the developed world. People try not to use it. It’s as if it were a swear word to them. But it is our Word! Serving means recognizing and embracing justice and hope and looking for concrete roads and paths to freedom.”

The Church must not leave it up to others to care for the needy, but must take the poor into account in parish programs, training courses for priests and monks, and in the actions of all Catholic movements and ecclesial groups.

He then addressed religious congregations and urged them to put their empty convents to good use.

“Dear mean and women religious, empty convents are not for the Church to transform into hotels and make money from them. Empty convents are not ours, they are for the flesh of Christ: refugees. The Lord calls us to be generous and courageous in welcoming people into empty convents. Of course this is no simple task; discernment and responsibility are required; but courage is also needed. We do a great deal; perhaps we are called to do more, by welcoming and sharing what Providence has given us to serve others, with determination."

He went on to implore the faithful to overcome the temptation of spiritual worldliness in order to get closer to simple people, especially the poor.

"All it takes is to knock at a person’s door and try to say to them: 'I’m here. Can I lend you a hand?'”

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