Pope Francis has sent 15,000 popsicles as a gift to prisoners in the capital city of Rome to help them cool off during the scorching summer weather. The ice cream trucks were delivered to 2 prisons in Rome including the Regina Coeli prison in the city center and the Rebibbia prison located in the suburbs. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski of the Vatican is overseeing the delivery. In a statement, the Vatican announced that the church's charity office will not be taking a break this summer. Instead, Vatican volunteers will be dedicating their time to serve the community, which includes visiting prisoners and comforting the afflicted. Sending popsicles is just one small gesture this summer to 'assist and bring hope to thousands of people in prisons in Rome.'
This summer marks one of the hottest periods ever recorded in Italy. Specifically, in the city of Syracuse, Sicily, temperatures soared to 48.8 degrees Celsius in August, one of the highest temperatures seen in Europe this summer.In June, about 20 prisoners at Rebibbia prison had the opportunity to meet with Pope Francis before accompanying him to visit a museum in the Vatican. Not only that, the Vatican's charity agency also took a group of homeless individuals to the lake or the beach to relax and have dinner at a pizza parlor. Additionally, the Vatican's charity agency provided free COVID-19 testing services and also organized vaccinations for homeless and impoverished individuals in Rome.According to The Guardian