Pope Francis has urged the diocese of Rome to address the growing housing crisis in the Eternal City, particularly as the Holy Year celebrations in 2025 approach. In a letter to the city's church leaders and religious order priests, the Pope called for church properties to be utilized to assist the homeless and residents facing potential eviction due to escalating rental prices.
The Vatican finds itself in a paradoxical situation as preparations for the Holy Year are expected to draw over 30 million pilgrims to Rome, leading to a surge in demand for short-term apartment rentals, especially in proximity to the Vatican. This heightened demand has exacerbated the trend of local residents being displaced or priced out as property owners opt for short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, a phenomenon not unique to Rome but also observed in other Italian cities such as Florence and Venice, as well as across Europe, prompting protests from local communities.
