By Charles Igwe
On the occasion of the ninth World Day of the Poor, Pope Leo XIV gave a symbolic key to a new apartment to a formerly homeless woman, offering her and her family a fresh start. The recipient, Nadia Howlader, had become homeless while 35 weeks pregnant and had been living on the streets of Sydney, Australia. Her life changed when the charitable organization St. Vincent de Paul Society arranged permanent housing for her and her daughter.
As part of a broader global initiative this year, the Pope blessed 13 keys — each representing a new home for people in need across different countries. Nadia traveled to Rome with members of the Society to meet the Pope in person, where she received the blessed key and expressed profound gratitude for the life-changing gift.
The initiative draws inspiration from a centuries-old tradition: in 1643, the founder of the Vincentian community used an endowment to build 13 small houses for abandoned or vulnerable children near the order’s headquarters in Paris. Now, the “13 Houses” project has expanded globally, offering hope and shelter to families and individuals who once had no stable home.
