Pope Francis thanks Rome’s
Astalli Center for assisting refugees
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| Pope Francis greets refugees at a Mass for migrants on 7 June 2018 (Vatican Media) |
Pope Francis sends a message to the Jesuit-run Astalli
Center in Rome to express appreciation for assisting migrants and refugees.
By Devin Watkins
“May your example ignite in society a renewed desire to
promote an authentic culture of welcome and solidarity.”
Pope Francis wrote those words of encouragement to the
Astalli Center in a letter made public on Thursday.
The Jesuit-run Center published the Pope’s letter, dated 23 May 2020, on its
Twitter feed.
Courage in delicate moment
Pope Francis wrote to Fr. Camillo Ripamonti, SJ, Director of
Astalli Center, the Italian headquarters of the Jesuit Refugee Service.
He thanked the Director, along with all volunteers and
employees, for their “courage in facing the migration ‘challenge’, especially
in this delicate moment for the right of asylum, since thousands of people are
fleeing from war, persecution, and serious humanitarian crises.”
World of peace and fraternity
The Pope also expressed his closeness to the refugees “whom
the Center assists with fraternal love.”
“I am spiritually near to you all in prayer and affection,
and I urge you to have trust and hope in a world of peace, justice, and
fraternity among peoples.”
Pope Francis closed his letter with a word of encouragement
to all who promote the rights of refugees.
He called their attitude a “wise openness to the complex
phenomenon of migration, promoting adequate aid efforts and witnessing to those
human and Christian values that form the foundation of European civilization.”
Asylum-seekers in Italy
Pope Francis’ letter came in response to Astalli Center’s 2020 Annual Report (in Italian).
The report describes the difficulties facing asylum-seekers
in Italy, who number around 20,000. Over half are in the capital, Rome.
The true emergency facing refugees in Italy, according to
the report, is the precarious nature of their situation, rather than their
number.
It alleges several factors for this situation, including the
abolition of humanitarian protections and complicated bureaucratic procedures
for obtaining residency and requesting asylum.
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