Trevi Fountain in Rome: money for Caritas or city administration?

The annoyance that now has the mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi, actually goes to the account of the German archaeologist Wolfgang Helbig (1839-1915). He spent 50 years of his life as a professor and gallery owner in Rome. Because he was also married to a rich Russian princess, he made a name for himself from many glamorous festivals.

At such a party, they say, he invented the question of money and the fountain. Or, according to another explanation, to comfort the students, who were sad to leave Rome: standing back, closing their eyes, throwing a coin over the head in the water of the well. The return to Rome is therefore certain. Another coin: we find very great love. A third: love lasts a lifetime.

Today, almost all the millions of tourists who come to Rome and crowd around the world's most famous fountain launch a coin in the water. Some even enter the water, mostly illegal and drunk. It is based on the Swedish actress Anita Ekberg in the film "La dolce vita", which was shot 60 years ago. Most obviously want to capture the launch of the mandatory currency only in a selfie.

Every morning, in the morning, men with vacuum cleaners on average weigh coins worth over 4,000 euros from the Trevi Fountain – in other words, because there are three roads leading to it. This amounts to around one and a half million euros per year. For a long time the city has collected money. Until the mayor Francesco Rutelli – the first green in the Roman municipality – had an idea in 2001: make such a "romantic gesture", with coins, "suitable for those who are dying of hunger". So he decreed that the proceeds should come from the well of Caritas.

So it was until Virginia Raggi, lawyer and politician of the five-star movement won the town hall and after a year realized that money is not enough. There's always trouble with the trash hiding everywhere in the Eternal City, holes in the streets where sometimes cars and even buses sink, and too many old city walls crumble because of his There's no money to receive money.

Thus, in the autumn of 2017, Mrs. Raggi and her city council decided to keep the source in cash and spend it in unspecified "social projects". Prompt, there was a public displeasure. The new municipal government postponed the request, only on January 1, 2019, the regulation will come into force.

There were still problems last year. Raggi and Co postponed the day of collection again, April 1, 2019.

All this did not help. The displeasure of many Romans is interrupted on social networks, in newspapers, in protest calls with the town hall.

The caress of the church

Well, Caritas is nothing but a global organization, with many thousands of volunteers and a great staff of solid professional helpers. She is the social arm of the Catholic Church. "The caress of the Church for his people", as Pope Francis in his sometimes idiosyncratic choice of words called the humanitarian organization.

In Rome, he manages 51 projects to provide food to needy people, a roof over their heads, medical or social care. Homeless, Roma, blocked migrants, women fleeing their husbands, children living alone in the streets. Every day there are 300 employees and, according to Caritas, around 5000 volunteers. As a result, the excitement, but also the potential for protest.

The bishops immediately registered. In their newspapers, via Vatican Radio and Facebook, they warn that "the services of Caritas helpers should be reduced and some should be stopped altogether", the decision of the municipality should come into force. And of course this would have "an impact on the social climate of the city".

Of course, this is also a case for opposition politicians. "The work of Caritas must be rewarded, not financially dehydrated", reproaches Social Democrats. But even in their ranks there is annoyance for anger, the woman Rays the five-star movement now again in einbrockt.

Just forgotten

Therefore, Raggi is now in a hurry to seek a peaceful end to the conflict. Maybe you could somehow share the money. And the city would also use its share for social purposes. But when the question arrives, how much more does it cost, if the city helps the needy, that if the army of helpers of free Caritas does the work, the logic of burden sharing ends quickly.

In the end, it seems so, Mrs. Raggi has only one thing: simply forget the handle in the fountain full of coins and go fishing elsewhere. To do the preservation of the face in the Roman town hall on a protocol, it is said, in which it was clarified that the coins of the famous pool belong to the city, but this – it leaves – in whole or in part – the Caritas. But that the municipality was allowed to check exactly what money would be used for.

Even the Pope would be happy.