Rome's Church: No one should lose their flat because of the Holy Year

The leaders of the city and the Church in Rome have announced an unusual alliance for the Holy Year: the left-wing mayor Roberto Gualtieri and the head of the Roman diocese appointed by the Pope, Cardinal-designate Baldo Reina, want to work to ensure that no one in Rome is put out on the streets because of unaffordable rents in the Holy Year 2025. 

As the Catholic daily newspaper "Avvenire" reported on Saturday, the head of the municipality and the churchman announced this at the presentation of the poverty report by Caritas Rome on Friday.

Mayor in favour of "moratorium on layoffs"

The initiative is also supported by the president of the Lazio region, Francesco Rocca, and the Roman Caritas director, Giustino Trincia. 

Reina explained that the aim was to prevent poorer people in the Holy Year from having their rental contracts cancelled due to arrears. 

Rents have risen in some neighbourhoods in the run-up to the Holy Year.

Rome's mayor Gualtieri announced that he would include the proposal for a "moratorium on cancellations" in his talks with the Italian government on the Holy Year. 

As more and more flats have been rented out for tourist overnight stays at a profit for years, there are fewer flats for people living in Rome, resulting in rent increases. 

Around 30 million pilgrims and tourists are expected in Rome for the Holy Year 2025.