During his flight to the island of Lesbos, the Pope recalled how this is one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of our time. The Pope recalled that is the saddest journey that he has made.
POPE FRANCIS
'It is a sad journey. We are going to see the greatest humanitarian tragedy after World War II.â?
The refugee situation in this European border is worsening as they are fleeing war but the governments are expelling them without any aid.
At the foot of the papal plane ladder, he was received by the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. The Pope thanked him for Greece's generosity with refugees.
The Patriarch of Constantinople and the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece also awaited him. With them, the Pope traveled in a minibus to the Moria refugee camp, a place where the migrants arrive and can not leave freely. The camp is home to some 2,500 people who are waiting for a response from the government in order to be granted refugee asylum.
The Pope listened to their stories and dried their tears, as he listened, for over an hour, to the tragedies that have brought them there.
While there, he first greeted orphans, children between 8 and 16 who have left behind everything.
Then the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople greeted many families. The Pope praised the humanity of the Orthodox Patriarch, who gave candy to the children.
Many said only their country of origin: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and especially Syria. Most were Muslims, but also Christians and Yazidis.
This man showed him his war wounds, and introduced him to his baby, born 15 days ago on the shores of Turkey.
This family comes from a Syrian city taken over by Isis. They worry about the fate of their relatives that stayed behind.
This family from Iraq asked for help because their daughter has skin cancer and needs the urgent care of a doctor.
It was a visit filled with emotion.
'Holy father, bless me, please, I'm a Christian. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. Jesus thank you, thank God.â?
POPE FRANCIS
'Tell what I can do and I will try.'
POPE FRANCIS
'We hope that the world will heed these scenes of tragic and indeed desperate need, and respond in a way worthy of our common humanityâ?.
The three Christian leaders signed a joint statement calling on governments to put 'all means to ensure that individuals and communities, including Christians, to remain in their homeland and enjoy the fundamental right to live in peace and security.â?
Then refugees invited the Pope and the other religious leaders to lunch, and of course, they accepted the invitation.
JMB/YA
CTV -AA
SV
- BN
up: JMB-IPC
