Pope to be asked to protect shelter in Belarus

Aliaksei Shchadrou, the founder of a shelter for homeless people in the Shchuchyn district, which provoked much criticism from the authorities, left Hroda for Rome to meet with Pope Francis.

He will get to Warsaw by bus and fly to Rome, journalists learnt from Siarhei Verameyenka, an activist of the organising committee to create the Belarusian Christian Democracy party. He went to the bus station to see Aliaksei Shchadrou off, krynitsa.info reports.

The activist doesn't know when exactly Shchadrou will meet with Pope. He plans to return to Belarus on July 20.

Belarusian Catholic believer Aliaksei Shchadrou, who opened a shelter for the homeless in the village of Aliaksandrauka, was invited to Vatican. The Holy See Secretariat of State became interested in the work of the community of Missionary Brothers, following the charisma of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Aliaksei plans to raise three questions at the meeting with the Pope: registration of the shelter as the community of missionary brothers; a possible canonisation of Mother Teresa of Calcutta; and help for opening similar shelters all over the world.

Photo: EPA