Pope Francis expressed his concern for the situation of migrants detained in Libya after praying the Angelus in St. Peter's Square.
POPE FRANCIS
'Once again, I call on the international community to keep its promises to seek common, concrete, and lasting solutions for managing the migratory flows from Libya and throughout the Mediterranean. How those who are turned away suffer! There are true concentration camps there.'
In recent weeks over 5,000 migrants have been sent to detention centers in Libya. The UN refugee agency has repeatedly denounced their poor conditions and disrespect for human rights.
The Pope also recalled that Sunday was World Mission Sunday, a Church-wide celebration of Catholic missionaries serving around the world.
POPE FRANCIS
'With gratitude I greet the many missionaries—priests, men and women religious, and lay faithful—who spend their energies in the service of Christ’s Church, paying personally, sometimes at great cost, for their witness.'
He then greeted various groups of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, and dropped a hint about this year's Nativity display at the Vatican.
POPE FRANCIS
'In particular, I greet the Peruvian community, there are so many Peruvian flags here, which is celebrating the feast of Christ of Miracles. This year’s Nativity display will also be from the Peruvian community.'
Each year the Vatican displays a Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square along with the history of its place of origin. This year we can expect a piece of South America to take center stage at Christmas in the Vatican.
JM
