Pope Benedict XVI visits soup kitchen in Rome and dedicates it to Pope John Paul
II
(04 Jan. 2007) : Pope Benedict XVI visited a soup kitchen on Thursday in Rome to bless
it and dedicate it to his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict then addressed
a few hundred people gathered in a nearby courtyard, saying love and charity bring
great joy. The pontiff also blessed a plaque which bore the name of Pope John Paul
II. The late Pope visited the same soup kitchen 14 years ago in1992 and shared tea
with several people, including a Somali man who had been attacked and set ablaze by
skinhead youths. At that time Pope John Paul had urged people to repudiate racism
and xenophobia.