Salvini hits out as Pope aide helps squatters

MATTEO SALVINI has criticised the Vatican after Pope Francis’s official almsgiver, a Polish cardinal known for his acts of charity, restored power to a building occupied by hundreds of homeless people in Rome.

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski climbed down a manhole at the weekend and turned on a switch to restore electricity to the building, saying he could no longer stand by while people suffered.

The 450 occupants of the building had been without electricity and hot water for a week.

Services were cut off after the property – which has been lived in by homeless people and migrants since 2013 – ran up debts of €300,000 (£260,000).

“Supporting illegal conduct is never a good signal,” said Mr Salvini, the Italian deputy prime minister. “There are lots of Italian people and legally resident immigrants who pay their bills, even if they are in difficulty.”

He said if the Vatican was so concerned about those living in the squat, then it should settle the unpaid bills.

The cardinal told the Corriere della Sera newspaper he had clambered down a manhole and torn off seals covering the building’s power switches.

“I don’t want it to become a political row,” he said. “I’m an almsgiver. My job is to help the poor. Those families and children at last have light and hot water again. I take full responsibility.

“I’ve known about the situation … for some time – nearly 500 people, including 100 children, abandoned to their fate.”