Pope in Bologna - meeting with migrants
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| Pope Francis meeting migrants at a regional center for them in Bologna, Italy, Sunday, Oct.1, 2017.-AP |
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis is on a day-long visit to
the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna on Sunday, where he is visiting
the cities of Cesena and Bologna. After holding two meetings in Cesena,
he flew to Bologna where his first appointment was the with migrants housed at
a regional centre at Via Enrico Mattei.
Christ – accepted or rejected
Addressing a round a thousand of them housed there, Pope
Francis said that many who don’t know them and are afraid, judge them from far
with harshness and coldness. But, he said one needs to see them from
nearby with mercy, for unless we see our neighbour with mercy, we
cannot understand his suffering and problems. “In you, as in every
stranger who knocks at our door, I see Jesus Christ, who identifies himself
with the stranger of every age and condition, accepted or rejected,” the Holy
Father told the migrants.
“Fighters of hope”
The Pope said he was among them because he wanted to carry
their eyes in his eyes, their heart in his heart. “I want to carry with
me your faces that are asking to be remembered, helped, I’d say
"adopted", because in the end you look out for someone who bets on
you, gives you confidence and helps you find that future for which you have
hoped and arrived here.” But alas some couldn’t made it, swallowed
by the desert or the sea. “People don’t remember them,” the Pope
said, “but God knows their names and welcomes them to Himself.” The
Holy Father thus invited all present there to a moment of silence to remember
and pray for them.
Reminding the migrants that they are “fighters of hope,” the
Pope wished that their hope may never turn into delusion, or worse still,
despair, thanks to the many who help them. In turn, he urged the
migrants to work hard for a welcoming city, and follow the laws of the land.
Integration
Regarding the phenomenon of migrants and refugees, the Pope
called for vision and great determination to prevent distortion or exploitation
which, he said, becomes even more unacceptable because they are committed on
the poor. He urged that increasing number of countries take up private and
community support programs for accepting and opening up humanitarian corridors
for refugees in more difficult situations to spare them unbearable waiting
period and lost time. Integration, the Pope said, begins with
knowing the story of the other. Noting some underage boys and girls among the
migrants, the Holy Father said they particularly need tenderness and
protection.
Pope Francis concluded his meeting with migrants, commending
the generosity of Bologna and its Church, saying, “The city is not afraid to
donate the five loaves and the two fish.” “Providence will intervene and everyone
will be satisfied,” he added.
Before and after his talk, the Holy Father took ample time
to meet and greet the migrants individually.
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