Pope Francis prays for Portugal fire victims and
refugees
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| Forest fires rage in Portugal - EPA |
(Vatican Radio) After the recitation of the Marian prayer on
Sunday in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the people
of Portugal following devastating forest fires in the Pedrógão Grande area,
south-east of Coimbra, which have killed and injured numerous people.
The Holy Father also recalled that on Tuesday World Refugee
Day promoted by the United Nations will be observed and has as its theme
"With Refugees”.
The Pope said that “today more than ever we have to support
refugees. " We remember those, women, men, and children Pope Francis
added, fleeing conflicts, violence and persecution and those who have lost
their lives in the sea or in extravagant land trips.
Their stories of pain and hope, underlined the Holy Father,
“can become opportunities for fraternal encounter and true mutual knowledge.
Indeed, he said, personal encounter with refugees dissipates distorted fears
and ideologies, and becomes a growth factor in humanity, capable of giving
space to feelings of openness and building bridges.”
During his address Pope Francis also had a special greeting
for a group of representatives from the Central African Republic and the United
Nations, who are in Rome for a meeting promoted by the Community of Sant'
Egidio. “I have in my heart, the Pope recalled, “the visit I made in November
2015 to that country and I hope that with the help of God and the good will of
all, the peace process, which is a necessary condition for development, will be
fully reinvigorated and strengthened.”
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