Pope Francis admitted to the Vatican 33 refugees today who arrived in Italy from Lesvos on a humanitarian corridor.
“Blocking the boats does not solve the problem. We must put aside our financial interests in order to defend the dignity of every person whose life, to the Lord, is precious,” the Pope stressed.
“We are all responsible for the lives of our fellow human beings and the Lord will ask us to answer for this,” Pope Francis added.
The Pontiff, during his talk, raised a life jacket that belonged to a migrant who lost his life in the Mediterranean last July. “I wanted to show this life jacket, on a cross, because we must remember that we must keep our eyes and our hearts open and none of us should forget everyone’s obligation to save every human life, a moral obligation that unites faithful people and non-believers,” the Pope underlined emphatically.
At the same time, he added that every effort should be made to close Libyan detention centers, taking into account all alternatives.
“Migrants and refugees are the victims of those who chase them away,” the Argentinean Pontiff said, adding that “injustice is forcing many migrants to flee their countries.”
Source: ANA-MPA