Pope decries indifference to refugees

Pope Francis decried the abandonment of refugees entering Europe in his Palm Sunday homily in the Vatican.

“Even as every form of justice is denied to him, Jesus also experiences, in his own flesh, indifference,” the pope said.

“Since no one wishes to take responsibility for his fate, I am thinking of so many other people, so many marginalized people, so many asylum seekers, so many refugees.”

“There are so many who don’t want to take responsibility for their destiny,” said Pope Francis at the observance of Palm Sunday, which marks the start of Holy Week.

The pontiff abandoned the prepared text of his homily to lament Europe’s handling of the influx of migrants and asylum-seekers fleeing war, persecution or poverty from Syria, Iraq, Africa and elsewhere.

Palm Sunday commemorates the joyful welcome of Jesus to Jerusalem before he was betrayed, crucified, and resurrected, according to Christian teachings.

“Jesus also suffered on his own skin indifference, because no one wanted to take on the responsibility for his destiny,” said Pope Francis.

“And I am thinking of so many people, so many on the margins, so many refugees” for whom “many don’t want to assume responsibility for their destiny,” he said in a clear reference to Europe’s migration debate.

EU and Turkish officials have made a deal to send back to Turkey migrants now arriving on Greek islands. The action was supposed to begin on Sunday.

Sources

Huffington Post
Reuters
Daily Mail
AP/The Herald News
Image: Reuters/Daily Mail

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