Pope Francis’ appeal to the international community: “To encourage the return of refugees to their homeland”
Pope Francis in a video message to the online meeting on the humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq: “My thoughts go out to the refugees who want to return to their country. I appeal to make every effort to encourage this return, guaranteeing the safety conditions and the economic conditions necessary for this to happen ”.
“My thoughts go to the refugees who want to return to their country. I appeal to the international community to make every effort to encourage this return, guaranteeing the security conditions and the economic conditions necessary for this to happen. Every gesture, every effort in this direction is precious “. That’s what she said Pope francesco in the video message to the online meeting on humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq. For Bergoglio “we must ensure that the Christian presence in these lands continues to be what it has always been: a sign of peace, progress, development and reconciliation between individuals and peoples”. And again, the Pontiff added: “Every effort – small or large – made to favor the peace process is like laying a brick in the construction of a just society, one that is open to welcome, and where everyone can find a place. to abide in peace. “” My thoughts – Pope Francis continues in the video message – go above all to people who had to leave their homes to escape the horrors of war, in search of better living conditions for themselves and for their loved ones “. The Pontiff remembers in particular “Christians forced to abandon the places where they were born and grew up, where their faith was developed and enriched”.
“A final reflection on the work of Catholic agencies that are involved in humanitarian aid”, says Bergoglio. “A thought of encouragement to all of you who, following the example of the Good Samaritan, are working unreservedly to welcome, care for, accompany migrants and displaced persons in these lands, without distinction of creed and belonging”, he continues. “As I have said so many times, the Church is not an NGO. Our charitable action must be inspired by and by the Gospel – Pope Francis then concludes -. This aid must be a tangible sign of the charity of a local Church helping another Church that is suffering, through these wonderful means which are Catholic humanitarian and development aid agencies. A Church that helps another Church! “. At the online meeting on the humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq, promoted by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, about fifty Catholic charitable organizations, representatives of local episcopates and Ecclesial institutions and religious congregations operating in Syria, Iraq and neighboring countries, in addition to the apostolic nuncios of the area.
Pope Francis will go to Iraq in March 2021. “Accepting the invitation of the Republic of Iraq and the local Catholic Church, Pope Francis will make an apostolic journey to that country from 5 to 8 March 2021, visiting Baghdad, the Plain of Ur, linked to the memory of Abraham, the city of Erbil, as well as Mosul and Qaraqosh in the Nineveh Plain “, the director of the Holy See Press Office Matteo Bruni reported in recent days, specifying that” the travel program will be published in due course, which will take into account the evolution of the emergency world health care “.
