Pope hosts hundreds of poor at Vatican luncheon

POPE Benedict XVI hosted more than 350 poor people at a post-Christmas luncheon at the Vatican, an event that marked this year’s 100th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

The pope passed among the guests in the crowded atrium of the Vatican audience hall Dec 26, then sat down at a table with 14 others for a three-course meal that featured lasagna, roast veal with potatoes and the classic Italian “pandoro” Christmas cake— this one with melted chocolate and Chantilly cream.

When the pope arrived, the guests placed a garland of white and yellow flowers around his neck, a tradition of India that was adopted by Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity.

Most of the guests were poor people served at soup kitchens run by the Missionaries of Charity in Rome and the surrounding area. Also in attendance were more than 100 sisters and brothers of the religious order, who sang Christmas carols and handed out small gifts.

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