The Pope ‘Embraced the Lepers of Today’

On the first pastoral visit of his papacy, Pope Francis traveled to the Sicilian island of Lampedusa on the 8 July 2013 to draw attention to the struggles of the African refugees who end up stranded there in their quest to reach Europe.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Lampedusa and Malta take in African migrants http://www.europeansources.info/record/lampedusa-and-malta-take-in-african-migrants/

Corriere della Sera, 08.07.13: Pope Francis: “No to Globalisation of Indifference” http://www.corriere.it/english/13_luglio_08/lampedusa_3d586ba6-e7d7-11e2-898b-b371f26b330f.shtml

BBC News, 08.07.13: Pope Francis visits Italy's migrant island of Lampedusa http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23224010

UNHCR: Press Release, 08.07.13: Pope Francis prays for migrants, refugees during landmark visit to Italy's Lampedusa Island http://www.unhcr.org/51dad8d86.html

ESO: Background Information: Memo: Malta considering push-backs: statement by Home Affairs Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-malta-considering-push-backs-statement-by-home-affairs-commissioner-cecilia-malmstrom/

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