MEMORIES OF A GENERAL MANAGER | GOLDEN PALACE TURIN — SUITE PAPA FRANCESCO
A papal blessing addressed to those staying in the suite
I preserve a photograph of Pope Francis with a handwritten dedication dated 8 September 2015. Its message explicitly addresses guests staying in the room and connects their stay with a charitable initiative. This is the most singular testimony of this chapter of my hotel career.
TO ALL THOSE WHO STAY IN THIS ROOM, FOR THE COLLABORATION THEY PROVIDE TO THE PARISH OF SANTA MARIA MADRE DEL PUEBLO. MAY IT BE A SIGN OF UNITY AND PEACE. WITH MY BLESSING. FRANCIS — 8-9-2015
English translation of the handwritten inscription transcribed by Carlos Almagro from his archive.
A blessing addressed to hotel-suite guests is, to my mind, an extraordinary testimony of hospitality, solidarity and peace. The possibility that it is unique worldwide has not been independently verified.
The brochure connects the initiative with Pope Francis’s Piedmontese roots and describes its charitable purpose: allocating proceeds from stays to support children in need in Argentina, particularly their education and a better future.
During my period at Golden Palace Turin I promoted this initiative, one of the experiences that best expresses my belief that hospitality can unite creativity, local identity and social commitment.
The featured image is the original photograph with the handwritten dedication from my archive. The hotel’s promotional poster is another historical document. The photograph does not prove that Pope Francis stayed at Golden Palace, nor has any worldwide exclusivity of the suite been established.
Complete historical article (PDF)