Pope Francis condemned the “rejection” of migrants during his traditional Easter message in the Vatican.
“All too often, these brothers and sisters of ours meet along the way with death or, in any event, rejection by those who could offer them welcome and assistance,” said the pontiff on Easter Sunday.
Pope Francis urge people to offer “welcome and assistance” to those fleeing war and poverty, as Europe struggles with its worst migration crisis since World War II.
The European Union and Turkey struck a deal earlier in March to send new migrants arriving on the Greek islands to Turkey.
On Good Friday, the pope decried what he called as Europe’s “indifferent and anaesthetized conscience” over migrants.
“The Easter message of the risen Christ… invites us not to forget those men and women seeking a better future, an ever more numerous throng of migrants and refugees… fleeing from war, hunger, poverty and social injustice,” the pope said.
Human rights groups have condemned the EU-Turkey deal as unethical and possibly illegal.
In his Easter address, the pontiff also called on people to remember the victims of terrorism, which he called “blind and brutal violence” that continues to shed innocent blood in Belgium, Turkey, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast and Iraq.
“Before the spiritual and moral abysses of mankind, before the chasms that open up in hearts and provoke hatred and death, only an infinite mercy can bring us salvation,” said Pope Francis.
Sources
AFP/Yahoo News
The Telegraph
BBC
Image: The Telegraph
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