Hundreds in occupied building had no power for days. A Pope Francis aide climbed down a manhole to restore it

In defiance to authorities, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski said he intervened personally Saturday evening to switch the meters back on for about 450 people, including 100 minors, who live in an abandoned state-owned building, according to ANSA news agency.

"It was a desperate gesture," Krajewski, who is Vatican almoner and Francis' "charitable arm" told ANSA. "There were over 400 people without electricity -- families, children -- without even the chance to run the refrigerators."

"I didn't do it because I was drunk," he added.

Activists from the Spin Time Labs collective have occupied the building since 2013, providing shelter for homeless families but also a tavern, a theater, a craft beer laboratory, a carpentry shop, a music rehearsal studio, and various social activities.

The power was cut on May 6 after they accumulated a debt of €300,000 (£260,000 or $337,000), according to ANSA.

The collective appealed on Facebook to the city of Rome to find a lasting solution "so that light doesn't go out anymore."

During a campaign speech in Bra, Cuneo, Italy's far-right interior minister Matteo Salvini said: "I expect the Pope's almoner also pays the €300,000 in debt," amid the cheers of his supporters. "I think all of you pay the bills by making sacrifices. If someone is able to pay the bills for the millions of Italians who are struggling economically, we are happy."

CNN has reached out to the cardinal and the Vatican for comment.

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