Pope Francis calls neglect of migrants the 'shipwreck of civilisation' on visit to Lesbos

Pope Francis calls neglect of migrants the ‘shipwreck of civilisation’ on visit to Lesbos

” In Europe there are those who continue in treating the issue as a matter that does not concern them,” the pope stated as he spent some two hours at Lesbos Mavrovouni camp where almost 2,200 asylum applicants live.On the second day of his check out to Greece, he fulfilled dozens of child asylum candidates and loved ones standing behind metal barriers and stopped to accept a kid called Mustafa.People later gathered in a tent to sing tunes and psalms to the pontiff.Pope Francis warned that the Mediterranean “is becoming a grim cemetery without tombstones” and that “after all this time, we see that little in the world has altered with regard to the issue of migration”. Terrible modern OdysseyThe temporary Mavrovouni camping tent camp was hurriedly set up after the stretching camp of Moria, Europes largest such site at the time, burned down last year.Greek authorities blamed a group of young Afghans for the occurrence and security was substantially enhanced for the pontiffs visit.The popes trip to Lesbos was shorter than his last; he was set up to hold a mass for some 2,500 people at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall later Sunday.In Cyprus, where the pope went to prior to Greece this week, authorities stated that 50 migrants will be transferred to Italy thanks to Francis.Greek officials have actually not ruled out the possibility that some migrants from Mavrovouni might accompany him back to Italy.He took 12 Syrian refugees with him throughout his last see to Lesbos in 2016. In 2016, Francis visited Moria with Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the worlds Orthodox Christians, and Archbishop Ieronymos II, head of the Church of Greece.The Mavrovouni camp presently holds 2,193 individuals and has a capability of 8,000, a center authorities stated this week.Authorities firmly insist asylum treatments and processing times are now faster.With EU funds, Greece is building a series of “closed” facilities on Greek islands with barbed wire fencing, monitoring cameras, X-ray scanners and magnetic gates that are closed at night.Three such camps have actually opened on the islands of Samos, Leros and Kos, with Lesbos and Chios to follow next year.Once migrants get asylum they are no longer eligible to remain in the camps with lots of then unable to find accommodation or work, drawing criticism from NGOS and help agencies.The groups have actually likewise raised concerns about the new camps, arguing that individualss motions ought to not be limited as well as claiming Greek border officers have pushed back migrants.Greece emphatically rejects the claims, insisting its coastguard saves lives at sea.The pope is set up to return to Rome on Monday.

The pope has actually long championed the cause of migrants and his see comes a day after he delivered a stinging rebuke to Europe, which he stated was “torn by nationalist egoism”.” In Europe there are those who continue treating the issue as a matter that does not concern them,” the pope said as he invested some two hours at Lesbos Mavrovouni camp where nearly 2,200 asylum hunters live.On the second day of his visit to Greece, he satisfied lots of child asylum seekers and relatives supporting metal barriers and stopped to embrace a young boy called Mustafa.People later gathered in a camping tent to sing tunes and psalms to the pontiff.Pope Francis cautioned that the Mediterranean “is becoming a grim cemetery without tombstones” and that “after all this time, we see that little worldwide has altered with regard to the problem of migration”. He said the source “ought to be challenged– not the poor individuals who pay the consequences and are even utilized for political propaganda”. The European Union has been secured a conflict with Belarus over an increase of migrants taking a trip through the former Soviet state seeking to get in Poland, Lithuania and Latvia in current months.Britain and France have actually traded barbs over the increasing variety of migrants making the deadly Channel crossing to reach the UK in the wake of the November 24 mass drowning which declared 27 lives.” His go to is a blessing,” said Rosette Leo, a Congolese asylum seeker at the site. Terrible contemporary OdysseyThe momentary Mavrovouni camping tent camp was fast erected after the sprawling camp of Moria, Europes largest such site at the time, burned down last year.Greek authorities blamed a group of young Afghans for the event and security was significantly improved for the pontiffs visit.The popes trip to Lesbos was much shorter than his last; he was arranged to hold a mass for some 2,500 individuals at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall later Sunday.In Cyprus, where the pope checked out prior to Greece this week, authorities stated that 50 migrants will be moved to Italy thanks to Francis.Greek authorities have actually not eliminated the possibility that some migrants from Mavrovouni could accompany him back to Italy.He took 12 Syrian refugees with him during his last visit to Lesbos in 2016. No to populisms easy responses At the start of his Athens go to on Saturday, Francis “today, and not only in Europe, we are witnessing a retreat from democracy,”, alerting against populisms “easy answers”. In 2016, Francis checked out Moria with Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the worlds Orthodox Christians, and Archbishop Ieronymos II, head of the Church of Greece.The Mavrovouni camp presently holds 2,193 people and has a capacity of 8,000, a facility authorities said this week.Authorities firmly insist asylum treatments and processing times are now faster.With EU funds, Greece is building a series of “closed” facilities on Greek islands with barbed wire fencing, surveillance video cameras, X-ray scanners and magnetic gates that are closed at night.Three such camps have actually opened on the islands of Samos, Leros and Kos, with Lesbos and Chios to follow next year.Once migrants receive asylum they are no longer qualified to remain in the camps with lots of then unable to discover lodging or work, drawing criticism from NGOS and aid agencies.The groups have also raised issues about the new camps, arguing that peoples movements should not be limited along with claiming Greek border officers have actually pressed back migrants.Greece emphatically denies the claims, insisting its coastguard conserves lives at sea.The pope is set up to return to Rome on Monday.( AFP).


Released on: 05/12/2021 – 12:44

Pope Francis on Sunday went back to the island of Lesbos, the migration flashpoint he initially visited in 2016, calling the overlook of migrants the “shipwreck of civilisation”.

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