Pope’s alms-giver arranges private tour of Sistine Chapel for Rome’s homeless

VATICAN CITY – First they got sleeping bags from Pope Francis. Then a shower and shave. Now Rome’s homeless are getting a private, guided tour of the Sistine Chapel.

The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano says the Vatican will open its museum doors to 150 homeless people Thursday. They’ll enter Vatican City via a side entrance, walk past the Vatican hotel where Francis lives and behind St. Peter’s Basilica to an internal entrance of the Vatican Museums.

They will see some galleries en route to Michelangelo’s masterpiece, which will close to the general public early. Afterward, the group is invited to dinner, L’Osservatore reported Tuesday.

The visit is being organized by Monsignor Konrad Krajewski, who has ramped up the job of the pope’s chief alms-giver to take particular care of Rome’s neediest.

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