Taiwan’s embassy in the Holy See donated dozens of down vests and jackets as well as other relief on Friday to a Vatican facility that provides shelter to migrants and refugees.

At a donation ceremony at Villa Serena, a facility lent to Pope Francis that has been used as a shelter since last October, Taiwan’s embassy handed over nearly 60 down vests and jackets to the residents of the shelter.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the life of many people … the more difficult times we live in, the more dedicated we should be to caring for each other,” said Matthew Lee (???), Taiwan’s ambassador to the Vatican.

Each resident received a fitted jacket or vest Friday because the embassy had acquired their body measurements in advance in order to source garments that fit them, including a 10-month-old infant, the embassy said.

In addition to the garments, the embassy also provided face masks, tote bags, and caps to the residents.

According to the embassy, the shelter is housing single women and minors from Afghanistan, Syria, Cameroon, and Romania who had arrived in Italy through the Humanitarian Corridors program.

Massimo Barcellan, who is in charge of the shelter, thanked Taiwan for the generosity. Taiwan’s donation truly answered the Pope’s call to lend a helping hand to the disadvantaged, he added.

This is not the first time that Taiwan has provided relief to Villa Serena. Last October, Buddhist group Tzu Chi Foundation sent 65 blankets to the shelter, according to the embassy.

Last week, the embassy also donated 300 sleeping bags to the Holy See’s migrants and refugees section, and the pastoral organization, Caritas Italiana, in Italy, the embassy added.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel