The pope’s almsman helps thousands of people every day
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski became the almsman of Pope Francis in 2013. The Holy Father was to find out about his charity activities. He had to be impressed, since he entrusted the priest from Łódź over his account and ordered the needy to help. Krajewski admitted that Francis told him that he did not want to see him side by side, because then he did not do what he expected from him. And he expects him to be with those who need help.
He introduced the homeless to St. Piotr
When we enter St. Piotr, the tents set up around him are surprised. The faithful stand in long queues at the entrance, but the homeless enter immediately. There have been many changes in the square since Pope Francis. He is responsible for them, none other than the Polish cardinal. He led to the construction of the homeless showers, organized a medical point where they are received, and the prescriptions issued by local doctors are implemented in the Vatican pharmacy for free. For the homeless, there is, for example, a hairdresser, they have clothes.
The Cardinal Krajewski office in the Vatican is in the part where the Vatican Guard guards the admission. But reaching the door of his office is not a problem. Suffice it to say that you go to Cardinal Krajewski. However, it is not possible to look for the Vatican walls. – Cardinal Krajewski is among the needy – says sister Maria, working in his office. Where? « It’s hard to say, he goes where he is needed and doesn’t tell us about it, » he adds.
A modest cardinal from Łódź spends millions of pope
Konrad Krajewski was born on November 25, 1963 in Łódź. He graduated from the Higher Theological Seminary in Łódź, later theology at the University of Lublin and Liturgy at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of St. Anselma in Rome. He did his doctorate at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. In 2002 he became a chaplain of the Holy Father John Paul II, and in 2013, Pope Francis appointed him papal alms.
– The pope is very specific. He says, you can enter me at the night you want, but with the poor – said Cardinal Krajewski youth during the Roman Oasis. – I deal with the Holy Father’s account. The Pope says to me that when the account is empty, it is good, and when it is not empty, you are lazy, you did nothing. The Pope never asked me where the money went, and these are tens of millions a year. He only says that he is to be according to the Gospel, and if not, you will sit. The only comfort in the fact that I will come to visit you – he admits with a smile and innate modesty.
Cardinal Krajewski enjoys the boundless trust of Pope Francis
In Cardinal Krajewski, it is not possible to look for haughtiness characteristic of many church hierarchs. Despite his high position, alongside Pope Francis and the great trust he is given by the Holy Father, he is direct and very modest. The pope’s almsian likes to talk about how much the pope cares about helping the most needy. He emphasizes that various requests come to the Pope, and help is organized very quickly. They do not judge, they do not ask unnecessary questions.
Entering in the evening to St. Peter is surprised by the sight of tents arranged between the pillars surrounding the square. You can meet homeless people at every step. Pope Francis emphasizes every time that the homeless should have access to the Vatican and this is happening. Nobody controls them, nobody stops them, and they know that they will get help, support, clean clothes and medicines here. Here they can take a shower, here they can sleep peacefully. The papal almsman ensures that the needy does not lack anything.
The papal almsman makes sandwiches himself and gives away to those in need in Rome
Cardinal Krajewski used to joke that his colleague was Judas. « And see how badly he ended, » he jokes. The pope’s almsman also became famous for breaking the seals from the meter in one of the Roman tenement houses to restore the in need of electricity. During the pandemic, contrary to the recommendations, he opened the church for the needy. He regularly travels with gifts around the stations, lodging house and places where people who need support stay. Not once did he personally go with gifts to war -torn Ukraine.
The papal almsman is an extremely modest man. He willingly talks about his mission alongside the pope, but every day, instead of sitting comfortably in the Vatican office, he is with those in need on the streets, in shelters, wherever he is needed. Homeless people know him perfectly. They most often have the opportunity to talk to him, meet and experience the good that he has been doing for several years at the behest of Pope Francis.
Cardinal Krajewski with another pope?
When Pope Francis got sick and in half of February to the Roman clinic of Gemella, many people began to wonder who could become his successor. The decision to abdication was expected. The eyes of the world then headed for Cardinal Konrad Krajewski. There is no doubt that the Łódź citizen would continue the work of Pope Francis. And the Holy Father himself would probably accept that another pope would continue his work.
However, there were quickly voices that it was rather unlikely that Krajewski would become another pope. He is certainly similar to the Holy Father. Like him, he lies at the heart of the good of those who need help the most. But do they expect this in the Vatican. Talking to the inhabitants of Rome, we often heard the accusation that Pope Francis abandoned the way previous popes operated, many people do not like it. Popes have been associated with dignity, red shoes, inaccessibility for centuries, and Franciszek does not want to be like that. And consistently realizes his vision of commanding the Catholic Church. But is this what church hierarchs expect, who will depend on the choice of another head of the capital of Peter?
Pope Francis chose his burial place. He doesn’t want splendor – he assures in his autobiography
