Pope Francis visits refugees at Jesuit center in Rome

Last updated on: September 10, 2013 at 4:32 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope Francis visits refugees at Jesuit center in Rome 2013-09-10T16:32:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rome, Italy, Sep 10, 2013 / 10:32 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Just two months after paying a visit to immigrants on the Italian island of Lampedusa, Pope Francis visited a group of refugees at a Jesuit-run center in Rome today.

He met at the Church of the Gesù with refugees seeking asylum in Rome, as well as volunteers who help provide them with food, health care, social support and legal aid.

At least 1,000 people gathered outside the Astalli Center, run by the Jesuit Refugee Service, to wait for Pope Francis, who arrived at 3:30 p.m. local time.

He met with Father Giovanni La Manna, president of the Astalli Center, as well as Cardinal Vicar of Rome Agostino Vallini and the Holy See’s press office director, Father Federico Lombardi.

“We are very pleased with this visit to the place where refugees live their every day life,” Fr. La Manna told Vatican Radio on Sept. 10.

“I believe that at this meeting personal experiences are the most important elements,” he explained, “and so everyone will have the opportunity to tell Pope Francis what they lived through upon their arrival to Rome.”

Fr. La Manna said he hoped the Pope’s visit would result in “a human and spiritual experience aimed at keeping alive the hope of more refugees of having a life of true peace and serenity.”

Along with other world efforts, he voiced a desire that this visit might “help restore peace in the countries of origin and, above all, keep alive the enthusiasm of being at the service of the poor and refugees.”

He stressed that the Pope’s visit to Lampedusa and his prayer vigil and fasting for Syria this past Saturday are not unrelated, but part of “a continuous process that aims to awaken the conscience of us all.”

The Astalli Center is the Italian branch of the Jesuit Refugee Service, an international network that assists refugees and forced migrants. It helped around 21,000 people in Rome in 2012.

The center offers facilities including an Italian language school, a health facility with special attention for victims of torture, legal counseling services and a soup kitchen.

Visiting refugees on the Island of Lampedusa in July, Pope Francis stated that “their condition cannot leave us indifferent.”

“We remember that when we heal the wounds of refugees, displaced persons and victims of trafficking, we are practicing the commandment of love that Jesus has left us,” he said.

The pontiff stated that love is practiced also “when we identify with the stranger, with those who are suffering, with all the innocent victims of violence and exploitation.”

Europe

Previous Post

September 10, 2013

Calif. advances abuse bill that could bankrupt Catholic dioceses

Next Post

September 10, 2013 Vatican source says Cardinal Bertone chose to resign early

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What city's walls fell after the Israelites marched around them?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ai Bethel Jerusalem Jericho