Pope condemns Europe's failure to help migrants in Easter message

Pope condemns Europe's failure to help migrants in Easter message

“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,” Pope Francis said

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By Josephine McKenna, in Rome


7:40AM BST 27 Mar 2016

Pope Francis has condemned Europe's "rejection" of migrants during his traditional Easter Message speech in Rome.

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“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,” he said from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica amid tight security on Sunday.
He also called for for greater compassion for the poor and marginalized.
The pope said he hoped the forthcoming World Humanitarian Summit to be held in Turkey in May came up with policies capable of assisting and protecting the victims of conflicts and other emergencies, especially those persecuted for ethnic and religious reasons.

The pontiff also called on people to remember the victims of terrorism, which he called “blind and brutal violence” which continues to shed innocent blood as seen in recent attacks in Belgium, Turkey, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast and Iraq.
He added that daily news reports were full of brutal domestic crimes and large-scale armed conflicts that were causing “indescribable suffering” to entire countries and their people.
“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,” he said.
The pontiff singled out the conflict in Syria for special attention and expressed hope that the latest round of negotiations could bring an end to the war’s “destruction, death, contempt for humanitarian law and breakdown of civil coexistence”.

“We trust the talks now underway, that goodwill and the co-operation of all will bring peace,” he said.
The pontiff urged people in the Mediterranean and the Middle East to “overcome their hardened hearts” and to promote peace in Iraq, Yemen and Libya as well as a solution to the war in Ukraine.
Earlier on Sunday the pope expressed his sympathy for the victims of Saturday’s suicide attack in Iraq that killed dozens of people at a football stadium south of the capital, Baghdad.
Before delivering his Urbi et Orbi message, the pope celebrated Easter Mass in St Peter’s Square in brilliant sunshine and there were loud cheers and screams when Francis blessed thousands of people in the square as he was driven around in his popemobile.
Italian media reports said 2,000 police officers and other security officials were patrolling the area around the Vatican and tourist sites in Rome.