Homeless Get Handmade Shoes Courtesy of the Pope

Posted Sep 25th 2007 at 4:45PM by Anne Metz (Subscribe to Anne Metz's posts)

Filed under: Accessories, CELEBRITY STYLE, Fashion, Celebrity, News, Stylish Living

Pope Benedict XVI is known for his love of luxury, especially expensive shoes. In fact, for his 2007 pope-a-month calendar, Benedict sported several pairs of red Prada loafers, so you know the Bishop of Rome has got to come correct!

The pope recently shared his love of fine Italian shoes with the homeless in Minneapolis. After giving Vatican representatives a tour of Sharing and Caring Hands, a homeless mission, the nonprofit received two large boxes containing several dozen pairs of handmade Italian shoes from the pope. Mission director Jo Copeland described the papal charity as "Just grand! This is just the best gift. That Pope Benedict, wherever you are, God bless you!"

Now I don't want to sound like a crank here, but what is up with giving a homeless shelter a bunch of pricey shoes? At best, it's impractical. At worst, it's insulting.

Seriously, if the pope really wanted to do something for the poor of Minneapolis, why not finance some health insurance or pay for a little workplace training?

After all, if you give a man a pair of expensive Italian shoes, he'll look stylish for a day, but if you teach a man how to earn his expensive Italian shoes, he'll look stylish for a lifetime.

Source

Tags: charity, do good, DoGood, Minneapolis, pope, prada, shoes

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Pam 7-05-2008 @ 4:20AM

This article is unfairly written, not at all thoughtful. So now this heinous article (ironically in the section "Do Good") now picks on people for actually doing something good for others? Don't judge unless you want to be judged, Ms Anne Metz. You should accept and promote anything that is done for the good, not condemn it. So now what if Louboutin wanted to give you like 10 pairs of heels? Would you write an article telling them "oh, you should've bought me a house or a car or whatever". This article is horrid and the journalists of the world should be ashamed to call you their colleague. I'm all for free media but this is unfair to the world of do-gooders. With all that said, I hope you think before you judge someone.

taylor 9-26-2007 @ 10:36AM

I think what he did was brilliant, thoughtful, and kind.

He shared a little luxury with those that have none, and that's awesome.

People need some sort of materialistic happiness at one point or another in their lifetime to be happy.

Sure, maybe he didn't go out giving free healthcare to the world or open up this 'clinic' you speak of, but that doesn't mean his gesture was any less heroic.

God bless.

paige 10-12-2007 @ 6:11PM

cheap b-----d

Bruce 9-29-2007 @ 8:19PM

The Pope is the head of a non-profit organization that made billions in profit.

His message is no condoms even for those with HIV, STDs, and harpies. No birth control and no abortion because Women are not "equal" to men.

The Pope knew his employees were raping children globally and helped them avoid prosecution, because it would be "bad for the church".

So lots of Catholics decided not to donate to an organization that harbored, protected and paid pedophiles.

A few thousand priests raped little catholic children; so what, John Paul will still get to be a saint.

Cathy 9-29-2007 @ 8:34PM

What? Because they're homeless they don't deserve anything nice? I can't imagine what those shoes did for their morale. They deserved that gift as much as anyone else. Believe me, the Catholic Church does plenty to help the needy in their day-to-day needs...this was simply a gift. The Pope "gets it".

ST 9-29-2007 @ 8:37PM

The pope is known for his love of luxury? Where did you get that from, and what circle of people is this known to? Read the entire article - the shoes were donated by an Italian shoemaker.

Diane 9-29-2007 @ 8:37PM

I was in Minneapolis when this happened and read about it in the Mineapolis Star Tribune. The "rest of the story" is that the Pope had been given 15,000 pairs of shoes when he toured an Italian shoe factory town.

The woman who runs the service center for the homeless has always specialized in caring for people's "soles" as well as their "souls". When the representatives from the Vatican who toured with her learned of this, it seemed like a perfect follow-up for the Pope to donate some of the shoes that he had been given to her!

ST 9-29-2007 @ 8:41PM

The pope is known for his love of luxury? Where did you get that from? And what persons are in the circle of people to whom this is "known"? Read the entire article. The shoes were donated by an Italian shoemaker.

Lorraine 9-30-2007 @ 5:53AM

Great post, Cathy. What a snipey, nasty little article this is, Ms. Metz.

Susan 9-29-2007 @ 8:56PM

I think what the Pope did was very nice. Everyone needs a boost of self-confidence, and if shoes do the trick, then great. Good for him! I too would like to know where the term "is known for his love of luxury" comes from. How do you know. Show me proof and then I'll believe. If you can't, then shut up! The Pope is a good man!

refreshing 9-29-2007 @ 9:11PM

I read this stupid article and thought how belittlling to the homeless
this attitude is. Even though they may have been nice shoes, whose to say it wasn't a collection of odd sizes or slight defects, which are on sale everyday in America? I thought how snotty this writer is. Then I read the comments and found others did, too. How refreshing. Thanks.

Walter 9-29-2007 @ 9:15PM

I read this stupid article and thought how
belittlling to the homeless. Celebrities get
free everything, everyday and a homeless
person can't have one pair of shoes?
And even thought they may have been nice
shoes, whose to say it wasn't an odd collection of
odd sizes or slight defects, which are on sale
everyday in America. I thought how snotty this
writer is. Then I read the comments and found
they did, too. How refreshing. Thanks.

billie kelpin 10-02-2007 @ 6:38PM

A total "let-them-eat-cake gesture." Shameful! The Pope and George Bush have a lot in common - a total lack of understanding of the human condition outside of their own experiences. If I were in Minneapolis, I'd help the homeless people put those shoes up on ebay and get some cold hard cash. When I had to sell books off my shelf to get enough money to buy gas to go to work, I would have taken those shoes to the nearest pawn shop or somewhere to make it through the day! Mary Jo Copeland is too gracious and grateful to think or feel that way. I'm not that forgiving of a person!

Jacqui 9-29-2007 @ 10:23PM

Hmmm? I'm a Roman Catholic so lets see how do I feel about this? Perhaps about the same as when Pope John Paul II apologized for slavery... Eh thanks, I think? Good intentions are nice I guess, but that doesn't always mean much more than that. Perhaps it's impractical in one sense, but then in another it might boost someones self-esteem wearing a great pair of shoes to an interview. I think the shelter could auction those shoes and use the money to fund a teach-a-man-to-fish-for-a-lifetime type program.

emilyfaithful 9-29-2007 @ 9:47PM

I may be starving to death, but look at my new Prada shoes! Doesn't the bible teach against materialism. Well, I guess the Catholic "bible" doesn't.

Happy To Be Catholic 9-29-2007 @ 9:53PM

What a disgrace to pick on our Holy Father for being generous. I can't believe that this journalist has nothing else to write about. I am really offended.

Kathy Lund 9-29-2007 @ 10:01PM

Just another sign of why we should not judge others - I volunteered at Sharing & Caring Hands about 2 weeks ago. Mary Jo Copeland asked us all to PLEASE go back to our parishes and ask for people to donate shoes because so many of the children had no shoes or nothing good enough to wear to school. My guess is the Pope was told they needed shoes for the children and that is what he did! Next time - think before judging others!

Nolan 9-29-2007 @ 9:59PM

Are you a good person? Look at the "mirror" of the Ten Commandments. Ever sees all lied? Stolen? Lusted (adultery of the heart - Matt. 5:27-28) or had sex out of marriage? Hated or been angry with someone (seen as murder 1 John 3:15)Guilty on Judgment Day? Heaven or Hell? (“...all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone...”Rev. 21:8). Jesus took your punishment on the Cross, proving God’s love. He defeated death. Repent (confess and forsake your sins) and trust Him alone for your eternal salvation (Its more than just belief in Him. Its trusting like when your trust in a parachute when you jump from an airplane)- God will forgive you and give you everlasting life. Read the Bible daily (obey it - John 14:21). God will never let you down. Questions? Go to www.needGod.com. Please DON'T WAIT get right with God now!! Please! Nothing matters more then where you will spend eternity.

Proud to be child of GOD 9-29-2007 @ 10:04PM

WOW # 10. My Holy Father is is heaven...I also refer to him as God. It seems so blasphemous to call some one on earth Holy Father.
I am pretty sure he doesn't wear shoes.

kriyabanpi 9-29-2007 @ 10:06PM

This is hypocrite catholicism at its best. Your article hits the target. The pope has no idea what it is to be poor or homeless.

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