Pope Francis blessed 13 keys on November 17, 2024, World Day of the Poor, to honor the Vincentians’ mission to provide homes for people in need of shelter. This blessing highlights the Vincentians’ and the Catholic Church’s commitment to supporting marginalized communities worldwide.

The 13 Houses Jubilee Project, an initiative aligned with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year 2025 theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” is spearheaded by the Famvin Homeless Alliance. The 13 Houses campaign is inspired by the legacy of St. Vincent de Paul, who established 13 homes for children in Paris that offered shelter and education for their well-being.

The foot-long bronze keys blessed by Pope Francis, a creation of Timothy Schmalz, a Canadian artist known for his life-size compositions, represent keys for homes being established in Syria, Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, the Central African Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Italy, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. Additionally, the Vincent’s Homes program, conceived in 2017 as an outgrowth of the Vincentians’ global 13 Houses campaign, provides housing in the Eastern Province USA. Approximately 33 homes have been completed since the program began.

Discover more about the Vincent’s Homes program by watching the program in action:

Globally, the 13 Houses campaign has served over 70 countries, helping around 10,000 people in need since 2018. The initiative spans all continents, showcasing the Vincentians’ and the Catholic Church’s global reach.

Beyond providing the immediate aid of housing construction and community support, the project also targets systemic change through the work of advocates at the United Nations by raising awareness and creating long-term policy change.

In the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, the 13 Houses project’s goal is to expand into more countries and communities. The project also aims to inspire broader action within the Catholic Church and society.

On the World Day of the Poor in 2025, families benefiting from the campaign will receive a special blessing from Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica.