Rome. Concession of “Casina San Vitale” to parish, black smoke

Trombetti: "A meritorious project but we need to look more deeply into the custody criteria"

ROME – Everything postponed to a date to be determined, probably starting next week. The Commission VII – Heritage and Housing Policies of Rome Capital, which met this morning to decide on the ‘Concession in favor of the Parish of San Vitale and Compagni Martiri of the property unit owned by the Capitoline called ‘Casina di San Vitale’, in via Nazionale 194, to promote the recovery of the property to be used for social-welfare-charitable activities, as well as welcoming pilgrims‘, has not in fact reached an agreement on the future of the property annexed to the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, adhering precisely to the parish of San Vitale and Compagni Martiri.
Therefore, no agreement has been reached on the future of the space that Rome Capital intends to give to the church for the next 6 years free of charge. “In 2023 – recalled the director of the Department of Heritage Valorization and Housing Policies of Rome Capital, Silvia Romano – the parish presented a project request in relation to an assistance and help activity for people in difficulty, needy people, elderly subjects, as well as a garrison for pilgrims who will arrive in Rome on the occasion of the Jubilee. It is therefore a social and welfare activity“.
Romano then informed that “we have temporarily given the parish custody of these spaces, 122 square meters, also in order to avoid occupation and vandalization of the same. I repeat: it is exclusively a delivery for custody“.
Therefore, a space currently in custody, given last April, but not in use by the parish. The president of Commission VII – Heritage and Housing Policies of Rome Capital, Yuri Trombetti, addressed those present. “The project does not include the hospitality part, right? Are we sure – he asked – that the structure does not host tourists or foreigners?”.
“In the project – Romano reassured him – a bed and breakfast activity or hospitality of pilgrims was never mentioned. Rather, it is intended as welcoming pilgrims but not including food and lodging“.
So everything solved? Not really. “Not mentioned – the president of the Commission V – Social and Health Policies of Rome Capital, Nella Converti, was keen to point out – does not mean not allowed or forbidden. I would also like to understand if the facility will provide 24-hour reception, because there are different types of services that can be put in place for the homeless. I would also like to understand the capacity of the building and the type of project that will be carried out”. “We – she added – are for year-round reception that provides the greatest dignity and possibility of inclusion and active paths of social policies for people”. “We know well – the words of councilor Tiziana Biolghini – that people who have lived on the streets for years have so many psychosocial fragilities that deserve a type of reception that is as personalized as possible, because people get sick on a mental level as well as a physical level. This is why, with respect to the future assignment of this space, it is essential to understand that there is a clear constraint that it cannot be used to host pilgrims”.
“The property – Trombetti was keen to point out – cannot be used in any way as a reception facility in view of the Jubilee. However, I have been told that the parish, God bless it, it is really the case to say it, already carries out a similar meritorious activity of welcoming and assisting the weakest people. We will look into the matter further and define the contours of this assignment well“.
“I have no problem voting for this resolution – he concluded – but I think it is better to postpone it until next week to better define the criteria for this custody”.