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Circolo San Pietro
The Circolo San Pietro was founded in Rome in 1869 through the efforts of a group of young men, guided by Cardinal Iacobini. It was born of the enthusiasm of these men made up of youths from the upper class and from the families of Roman nobility who desired to witness to the world their fidelity to the Pope and to defend him against anticlerical attacks during a difficult moment in the history of the papacy.
The group initially made appeals through the Catholic press, gathered signatures and organized celebrations and gestures of solidarity which were offered to Blessed Pope Pius IX, who deeply appreciated them. The Pope assigned to the group their first charitable activity in favor of the poor.
The approbation received by the Circolo in that historic papal audience marked the beginning of numerous charitable activities that it offers to the Pope’s diocese. For over a century Romans have called this charity “the Pope’s soup kitchen”.
Unconditional fidelity to the Church and the Roman Pontiff remains the distinctive sign of this sodality, which marks this charism in its motto, “Prayer – Action – Sacrifice”.
The Circolo San Pietro forms part of the history of Rome, having offered comfort and aid to the poor through two world wars, as well as through other tragedies and instances of poverty which affected the city.
Its activities, carried out through various committees, reaches out to all areas of human poverty and seeks to respond to many persons in need.
The “Soup Kitchen Committee” was established just prior to the capture of Rome through the expressed will of Blessed Pope Pius IX, who gave to the Circolo the pots belonging to the pontifical army, the Zuavi, in order that “the army of the poor, which the Church never lacked, should always be able to offer hot soup”. Today the Committee distributes about 50,000 meals every year in three kitchens in various parts of the city. On the occasion of the Jubilee Year of 2000, Pope John Paul II honored the Circolo by assigning it the responsibility to distribute 500 free meals a day at the four patriarchal basilicas in Rome to poor pilgrims who travelled to Rome for the Holy Year.
The “Family Housing Committee” offers family-style hospitality to parents whose children are admitted for care at the pediatric hospital “Bambino Gesù”. The Committee also offers housing at its location in Via S. Giovanni in Laterano to female university students in need. Spiritual care is also offered there.
The “Clothing Committee” distributes new clothing items to the needy through parishes, religious communities and other charitable organizations.