Pope Francis, known for making special efforts to include the poor and the downtrodden in more and more Vatican-related endeavors, is putting papal money where his mouth is.

The pontiff's most recent charitable initiative was to offer a free shave and shower for the less fortunate. On Monday, homeless men and women lined up off St. Peter's Square to get cleaned up.

Mauro Casubolo, who had not had a shave in three weeks, was one of the first clients to show at the pope's barbershop, which opened up in the public restrooms just off the Bernini Colonnade.

Although Casubolo claims he gets by thanks to local charitable organizations, he is adamant what he really needs is a job. "Even if I need to clean steps somewhere, clean bathrooms, I don't care," he said, according to The Associated Press. "As long as I have a salary that gets me to the end of the month, I'll be OK. I can have a home and live like everyone else."

Speaking of the pope, Casubolo said, "It's a beautiful thing he's done for us, especially for us who live in the middle of the streets, because if you want to try to go find some work you can come here and have a shower."

The free shower and shave may in the end be a simple way to get people on their feet.

According to Pope Francis's chief alms-giver, Monsignor Konrad Krajewski, the project is needed since homeless people are often shunned for their appearance and smell.

The socially conscious initiative is being funded by donations and from the sale of papal parchments by Krajewski's office.

The program also is getting a lot of help from the locals. As most Rome's barber shops are often closed Mondays, barbers are willing to volunteer on their days off. Aside from these professionals, some sisters from religious orders and students from a local beauty school are also donating their time.

And they are happy to do so. A hairdresser named Enrico Palmieri who is set for his first volunteer shift next Monday said he was curious about the project: "It's something beautiful."