Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada

It is the Mission of the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada to promote mutual understanding, respect, appreciation and cooperation among people of various faith and cultural communities in Southern Nevada and in the world as a whole by appreciating the sacred, extending hospitality, offering educational opportunities, encouraging compassionate leadership, sharing in service and working for justice.

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Pope Francis arranges burial of homeless man in the Vatican

March 3, 2015 By ifcsn

Original post on The Independent, article by Jenn Selby

Screen Shot 2015-03-04 at 9.36.28 PM

Pope Francis made another statement of generosity and charity by allowing a displaced Belgian man to be buried in the Vatican.

Homeless Belgian Willy Herteleer, who died from exposure in December, lived on the streets around St Peter’s.

He was a well-known figure to many priests in the area, who bought him food and water as he begged on the streets for change from tourists.

The Pontiff granted his burial within the confines of the Teutonic Cemetery, which is usually reserved exclusively for senior German clerics.

Monsignor Amerigo Ciani made the unusual request to the Pope, after he forged a friendship with Herteleer.

“It is without doubt the first time that a homeless person has been buried within the walls of the Vatican,” a Vatican spokesperson confirmed.

The gesture marks the latest effort by the Pope to promote the rights and welfare of the poor.

On his birthday in December last year, the Pope gifted sleeping bags to dispossessed Romans across the city.

Showers for homeless people were also erected in public toilets outside St Peter’s square earlier this month.

Pope Francis released an “Apostolic Exhortation” to outline poverty and economic inequality as two of the main concerns of his Papacy in 2013.

He said: “Just as the commandment ‘Thou shalt not kill’ sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say ‘thou shalt not’ to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills… How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses 2 points?”

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Message from the President

Why Interfaith: A note from the Chair of the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada, Reverend Gard Jameson

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"There can be no peace among the nations without peace among the religions. No peace among the religions without dialogue among the religions."
- Hans Kung

VISION

A world where all faiths, spiritual paths, cultural traditions, and communities cooperate for the benefit of all and are honored, respected, and celebrated.

Mission

It is the Mission of the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada to promote mutual understanding, respect, appreciation and cooperation among people of various faith and cultural communities in Southern Nevada.

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Interfaith Council of So. NV
PO BOX 73070
Las Vegas, NV 89170

(702) 900-6840
info@interfaithsn.org

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