CEO of Catholic Charities SWFL heads to DC to see the Pope

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FORT MYERS, Fla. – Several Southwest Florida leaders are in Washington DC to see Pope Francis, including the CEO of Catholic Charities in Southwest Florida.

“This is the first time I’ll see a pope live and in person,” Peter Routsis-Arroyo said.

Routsis-Arroyo says this is a trip of a lifetime.

“I think it speaks volume that he wants all of the directors of Catholic Charities throughout the country to be invited,” Routsis-Arroyo said.

Catholic Charities is a non-profit organization with a mission to help everyone, regardless of race, nationality or religion. The local chapter hopes to continue their work with social service programs and help people become more self-sufficient. Routsis-Arroyo says the Pope’s message of respecting human dignity and helping the less fortunate is exactly what Catholic Charities is all about.

“For me and for the work that we do in Catholic Charities, it’s energizing and it’s motivating to hear him talking to the whole world,” Routsis-Arroyo said.

He also says the trip is on par with other highlights in his life, and there’s no one he’d rather spend 10 minutes with than Pope Francis.

“It would not be a politician, it would not be a movie actor, it would not be a sports figure; it would be Pope Francis.”

 

 

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