The first laundry facility for the poor under Pope Leo XIV was inaugurated on November 6, 2025, in the northern Italian city of Parma, just days ahead of the World Day of the Poor on November 16.

While previous facilities were named after the reigning pope, Pope Leo XIV requested that these new centers be named in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, reflecting his papacy’s emphasis on humility and service.

The Parma facility, known as the Laundry of St. Francis of Assisi, offers free access to washers, dryers, and hygiene services for the homeless and those in need.

It was inaugurated by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner and prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, who emphasized the transformative power of such a seemingly simple service.
“It seems a small thing,” Cardinal Krajewski said, “but for the poor, to have a place to wash their clothes and change them is something that transforms lives”.

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