Pope brings hope to migrants, chastises leaders in Lesvos visit

Series Title
Series Details 16.04.16
Publication Date 16/04/2016
Content Type

Pope Francis visited the Greek island of Lesvos (Lesbos) on the 16 April 2016 in an act of solidarity with migrants, including thousands of asylum seekers, awaiting an uncertain future on the island. He was accompanied by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios and Archbishop Ieronymos, the head of the Church of Greece.

The Pope declared that 'we are all migrants' and criticised the world community for failing to end the wars fueling the crisis. He pleaded for the world to show 'common humanity' following a hardening of the EU's stance on migrants.

The visit followed a 2013 visit by the Pope to the Italian island of Lampedusa, which has also been a key landing post for migrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East fleeing to Europe.

On his return to the Vatican the Pope took with him three Muslim Syrian families whose homes have been bombed in Syria. The Director of the Holy See’s Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, said the Pope had wished to make a gesture of welcome and solidarity on behalf of the refugees.

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Related Links
ESO: Background information: Greece begins refugee deportations under EU plan http://www.europeansources.info/record/greece-begins-refugee-deportations-under-eu-plan/
ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/
Politico, 16.04.16: Pope Francis returns from Greece with 12 migrants http://www.politico.eu/article/pope-francis-returns-from-greece-with-12-migrants/
BBC News, 16.04.16: Migrant crisis: Pope returns from Greece with 12 migrants http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36063300
Deutsche Welle, 16.04.16: Pope brings 12 Syrian refugees back with him after Lesbos visit http://dw.com/p/1IX31
The Guardian, 16.04.16: Pope Francis takes refugees to Rome after Lesbos visit http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/16/pope-francis-flies-to-lesbos-to-highlight-humanitarian-crisis-in-europe
Euro|Topics: Debates, April 2016: Will pope's visit help the refugees? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/157600/will-pope-s-visit-help-the-refugees
Blog: National Catholic Reporter, 18.04.16: Pope Francis Champions Refugees & Migrants http://ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/pope-francis-champions-refugees-migrants

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