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Vatican

Pope Francis opens free laundromat for homeless

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Ciro Guardaccione, a homeless person who is a regular of the Sant’Egidio Community Centre, removes clothes from a washing machine in a laundry opened in this catholic community in Rome, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Pope Francis has opened a new laundromat for the homeless to wash, dry and iron their clothing and blankets. The laundromat, not far from the Vatican, has six washing machines, six dryers and several ironing boards and irons. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (The Associated Press)

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    Giuseppe, 53, puts clothes inside a washing machine in a laundry opened in the Sant’ Egidio Community Center in Rome, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Pope Francis has opened a new laundromat for the homeless to wash, dry and iron their clothing and blankets. The laundromat, not far from the Vatican, has six washing machines, six dryers and several ironing boards and irons. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (The Associated Press)

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    A volunteer helps a man who took his clothes to a washing machine in a laundry opened in the Sant’Egidio Community Centre in Rome, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Pope Francis has opened a new laundromat for the homeless to wash, dry and iron their clothing and blankets. The laundromat, not far from the Vatican, has six washing machines, six dryers and several ironing boards and irons. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (The Associated Press)

ROME – Pope Francis has opened a new laundromat for the homeless to wash and dry their clothing.

The laundromat, near the Vatican, has six washing machines and dryers.

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On Tuesday, Ciro Guardaccione was among the first to use the new machines. He carefully placed his clothing in the washing machine and watched it spin around.

"This is a fantastic thing, I would like to thank Pope Francis for everything," he said.

The laundromat will remain open four days a week and services are free.

Throughout his papacy Pope Francis has made an effort to reach out to the homeless in Rome. In 2015 the Vatican opened a free barber shop and showers under the Vatican Colonnade and set up a dormitory for homeless men near St. Peter's Basilica.