-'This is Grace, from Cameroon.'
-'From Cameroon?'
Pope Francis met with the first group of refugees from Cyprus.
There are 10, and the hope is to bring an additional 40 to Italy. This initiative was made possible thanks to an agreement among Cyprus, the Holy See and the Italian government.
-'He's a doctor. He's a computer scientist. He's a college graduate. He's also a computer scientist.'
They come from Cameroon, Congo, Somalia and Syria. The Pope will be responsible for them until they're independent. This isn't the first time he does this. Five years ago, he brought five families to Rome from Lesbos, and today they are perfectly integrated.
The refugees who met him today don't speak Spanish or Italian, so their caretakers spoke on their behalf and shared their stories with the Pope.
-'They were in a refugee camp in Cyprus. A terrible camp.'
At the end of their meeting, they gave him a gift.
The y also told the Pope about a girl he met in Lesbos, who will be admitted at a hospital in Rome with her family.
-'A girl.'
-'And she'll go to the Gemelli Hospital.'
-'No. To Bambino Gesù.'
Pope Francis took a picture with the migrants, and they congratulated him on his 85th birthday.
But they weren't the first people to wish the Pope a happy birthday. As he does every Friday during Advent, Pope Francis went to listen to Card. Raniero Cantalamessa's sermon. When he walked into Paul VI Hall, a group of homeless people greeted him with flowers.
-'Congratulations.'
Some of those present congratulated him while he made his way to his seat. And after praying the Our Father, Card. Cantalamessa said this.
-'This prayer was for the Holy Father, whom we congratulate today on his birthday.'
JRB
TR: CT
