Pope Francis takes Muslim refugees home on Vatican plane after visit to Lesbos
The Tablet
16 April 2016 | by Christopher Lamb in RomeDecision to offer asylum to dozen Syrians from migrant camp in Greece a defining moment of Francis' papacy
In what will be seen as a defining
gesture of his papacy, Pope Francis today returned to the Vatican with a
dozen Muslim refugees after a visit to the Greek island of Lesbos, an
arrival point for thousands seeking asylum in Europe.
Francis flew back to Rome this afternoon
with three Syrian families, including six children, aboard his papal
plane. All of them were living in camps on the Greek island having fled
their war-torn country after their homes had been bombed - one family
came from a part of Syria occupied by Islamic State.
The plight of migrants has become a major
theme of Francis’ pontificate and his impromptu visit to Greece,
announced only 10 days ago, is a powerful sign of his concern for those
fleeing their countries to due to war, persecution and poverty. Francis’
concern for migrants was shown early on when he decided that his first
visit outside of Rome as Pope would be to Lampedusa, the island in
southern Italy which became the arrival port for many coming from North
Africa.
“I have wanted to visit Lesbos ever since
migrants arrived here seeking peace and dignity,” the Pope said today.
Later, when speaking to those being held in a camp in Moria on the
Island, he explained his reason for travelling to Greece: “I want to
tell you that you are not alone. In these weeks and months, you have
endured much suffering in your search for a better life.”
The decision to take refugees back with
him to the Vatican shows both that the Church is able to practise what
it preaches and lays down a challenge to political leaders to come up
with policies to accommodate new arrivals.
Francis has repeatedly called for more to
be done to welcome migrants arriving in Europe including urging
parishes and monasteries to house at least one family of refugees.
Along with the twelve new arrivals, the
Vatican is already hosting two refugee families, with one from Syria and
another from Eritrea. The 12 arriving today from Lesbos will be cared
for by the Holy See although the initial assistance will be provided by
the Community of Sant’Egidio, a Catholic group dedicated to building
peace and serving the poor.
Going to Greece threw the Pope into the
heart of the political debate over how to respond to refugees. Last
month a European Union deal was struck ensuring Greece sends all
“irregular” migrants back to Turkey, a move that the Holy See has
criticised. Many believe the deal is primarily deterrent: in the week to
the 13 April, arrivals in Greece were 76% lower than the previous week,
according to the International Organisation for Migration.
“The worries expressed by institutions
and people, both in Greece and in other European countries, are
understandable and legitimate,” the Pope said in a speech to the people
of Lesbos. “We must never forget, however, that migrants, rather than
simply being a statistic, are first of all persons who have faces, names
and individual stories.”
Around 3,000 migrants are being held in a
camp in Moria, which the Pope also visited. “Do not lose hope,” Francis
told them. “The greatest gift we can offer to one another is love.”
The Pope arrived this morning at Lesbos
Mytilene airport where he was greeted by Greek Prime Minister Alexis
Tsipras, Patriarch Bartholomew, the “first among equals” leader of the
Orthodox Church, and the Archbishop of Athens Ieronimos II. In his
speech at the camp, Patriarch Bartholomew told the residents: "The world
has not forgotten you. The world will be judged by the way it has
treated you.”
Along with the humanitarian focus of his
trip there was also an ecumenical one with the three leaders issuing a
joint declaration calling for the international community to tackle the
root causes of the “colossal humanitarian crisis” such as tackling
conflict in the Middle East.
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