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03 August 2021 Over 2,500 people supported; 920 applications submitted; three types of measures proposed including subsidies, income support and job placement; 400 volunteers engaged in 75 Territorial Listening Presidia distributed throughout Rome. These are the data from the "Alliance for Rome" project, which concluded the first phase of activity on 31 July. The data in the press conference in the Lateran Apostolic Palace, in the presence of Archbishop Gianpiero Palmieri of the diocese of Rome; bishop Benoni Ambarus, delegate for Charity and former director of the diocesan Caritas; by the president of the Lazio Region Nicola Zingaretti and by the mayor of Rome Capital Virginia Raggi. 



The initiative was born at the invitation of Pope Francis who on 10 June 2020 established the "Jesus Divine Worker" Fund to support those most affected by the economic crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Lazio Region and Roma Capitale joined this invitation, thus giving birth to the Alliance for Rome. The contribution of the Lazio Region and Roma Capitale, both with 500,000 euros, was added to the allocation of the diocese of Rome of one million euros. With the passage of time, both companies and private citizens contributed with 201 thousand euros.



The sense of closeness and rebirth

The inspiring idea was to activate, in a relationship of help and proximity, paths of accompaniment and social promotion, in which people could be protagonists of their own rebirth and that of the community.



Bishop Ambarus

"The Alliance for Rome - explains Bishop Ambarus - is intended to be a sign, bearer of a prophecy and a testimony. In this year we have acted with the awareness of the" five loaves and two fishes ", that is, knowing very limited resources with respect to to requests. But we are happy and proud to be able to tell how we managed to live the miracle of multiplication. The communities became better aware of what was happening and, by meeting them people, families, they offered not only financial resources or work paths , but also company, relationship, accompaniment ". "Alliance - underlines Archbishop Palmieri - is a term and attitude that has as its purpose a union of forces to face a difficulty together, to reach a very specific goal".  



The mayor Raggi

"Rome is a city of solidarity and generosity - declared the mayor Raggi - and Alleanza per Roma is a virtuous example of how, all together, by networking, joining forces, resources and energies, it is possible to take care of the weakest and guarantee them dignity and support ".



The President of the Zingaretti region

 "As the Lazio Region - comments President Zingaretti - we are proud to have participated in the initiative launched over a year ago by the Holy Father with the Jesus Divine Worker Fund: a vital intervention for many people who have found a lifeline and help concrete in Caritas, in the extraordinary network of volunteers, in parish offices, in the many generous women and men who - even with the threat of the virus that was spreading - made themselves available for others ".