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AL-DHAFRA AIR BASE, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said he will talk with his commanders in the coming days to identify additional ways the U.S. can intensify the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, including more airstrikes, cyberattacks and American troops on the ground....
ROME (AP) -- Pope Francis said his brief encounter Saturday with U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders was a sign of good manners, "nothing more," and hardly evidence of interfering in American politics....
ROME (AP) -- Pope Francis says his gesture is "a drop of water in the sea" of Europe's migration crisis. Yet for 12 Syrian refugees, the pope's decision to fly them back to Italy from Greece is an act of kindness that will resonate for the rest of their lives....
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis flew back to Rome on Saturday at the end of his 6-hour visit to the Greek Island of Lesbos during which he implored Europe to treat refugees with dignity. The papal plane took off from Lesbos’ airport at 15.32 local time.The Pope was accompanied on his visit to Lesbos by the Orthodox leader, the Ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I and the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, Ieronymos II. During their visit, the three spiritual leaders signed a joint declaration calling on the international community to make the protection of human lives a priority and to extend temporary asylum to those in need.Earlier they toured the Moria refugee camp where many of the refugees fell to their knees and wept at the Pope’s feet as the three spiritual leaders toured the camp and met its inmates.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis flew back to Rome on Saturday at the end of his 6-hour visit to the Greek Island of Lesbos during which he implored Europe to treat refugees with dignity. The papal plane took off from Lesbos’ airport at 15.32 local time.
The Pope was accompanied on his visit to Lesbos by the Orthodox leader, the Ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I and the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, Ieronymos II.
During their visit, the three spiritual leaders signed a joint declaration calling on the international community to make the protection of human lives a priority and to extend temporary asylum to those in need.
Earlier they toured the Moria refugee camp where many of the refugees fell to their knees and wept at the Pope’s feet as the three spiritual leaders toured the camp and met its inmates.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis took three Syrian families and their six children back with him on the plane to Italy when he left the Greek island of Lesbos after his 6-hour visit there.The Syrian refugees, numbering 12 in total, were chosen from amongst those who were already present in the refugee camp on Lesbos before the recent deal was signed between the EU and Turkey. The Director of the Holy See’s Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, said the Pope had wished to make a gesture of welcome and solidarity on behalf of the refugees and the initiative had been organized and made possible during discussions between the (Vatican) Secretariat of State and the relevant Greek and Italian authorities.All the members of the three Syrian refugee families are Muslims. Two of the families come from Damascus and the third one comes from Deir Azzor which is located in an area controlled by the so-called Islamic State group. The homes of all three families were destroyed by shelli...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis took three Syrian families and their six children back with him on the plane to Italy when he left the Greek island of Lesbos after his 6-hour visit there.
The Syrian refugees, numbering 12 in total, were chosen from amongst those who were already present in the refugee camp on Lesbos before the recent deal was signed between the EU and Turkey.
The Director of the Holy See’s Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, said the Pope had wished to make a gesture of welcome and solidarity on behalf of the refugees and the initiative had been organized and made possible during discussions between the (Vatican) Secretariat of State and the relevant Greek and Italian authorities.
All the members of the three Syrian refugee families are Muslims. Two of the families come from Damascus and the third one comes from Deir Azzor which is located in an area controlled by the so-called Islamic State group.
The homes of all three families were destroyed by shelling. The Vatican will be taking cost of the costs involved in housing and taking care of the refugees. Father Lombardi said the Sant’Egidio community will be providing the initial shelter for them.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday offered a concrete and powerful gesture of solidarity to refugees and prayers to the victims of migration before wrapping up his visit to the Greek island of Lesbos.The decision to offer shelter and care to refugee families who travelled back to Rome with him aboard the papal plane was announced at the end of an intense visit to Lesbos which aimed to show support and solidarity to the hundreds of thousands of refugees who are currently facing detention, razor fences, closed borders and rejection in Europe as they flee violence and persecution.A 6-hour visit, marked by many poignant and moving moments, included prayers and a tribute to those who have drowned during a ceremony at the Lesbos port of Mytilene.According to the International Organization for Migration, 366 people have died crossing the water from Turkey to Greece since the beginning of this year alone. There are many children and infants amongst the victims.Listen to the re...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday offered a concrete and powerful gesture of solidarity to refugees and prayers to the victims of migration before wrapping up his visit to the Greek island of Lesbos.
The decision to offer shelter and care to refugee families who travelled back to Rome with him aboard the papal plane was announced at the end of an intense visit to Lesbos which aimed to show support and solidarity to the hundreds of thousands of refugees who are currently facing detention, razor fences, closed borders and rejection in Europe as they flee violence and persecution.
A 6-hour visit, marked by many poignant and moving moments, included prayers and a tribute to those who have drowned during a ceremony at the Lesbos port of Mytilene.
According to the International Organization for Migration, 366 people have died crossing the water from Turkey to Greece since the beginning of this year alone. There are many children and infants amongst the victims.
Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni:
Listen:
Before even setting foot on Greek soil on Saturday morning, Pope Francis told journalists on the papal plane traveling to Lesbos, that this visit was marked by sadness - and that he was preparing to visit a cemetery: the sea.
After meeting with some refugees in a camp and after having shared the midday meal with a dozen of them of different provenance, the Pope and the leaders of the world's Orthodox Christians and the Church of Greece traveled to the main port in Lesbos and paid tribute to those who have drowned at sea.
The three led a minute of silence in front of a crowd of hundreds of people at the port, before tossing yellow and white floral wreaths into the waters.
Then Francis, Patriarch Bartholomew I and Archbishop Hieronymus prayed for all those who have died after leaving their homelands in search of protection and a better life.
“Though many of their graves bear no name, - Francis prayed - to you each one is known, loved and cherished”.
And invoking God’s tender closeness, he said “we seek a world where none are forced to leave their home and where all can live in freedom, dignity and peace”.
Francis’ prayer also called for an awakening from the slumber of indifference and for the opening of our eyes to the suffering of so many.
“Inspire us, as nations, communities and individuals – he said - to see that those who come to our shores are our brothers and sisters” that we may recognize that “together, as one human family, we are all migrants, journeying in hope to you, our true home”.
The brief but intense visit concluded with a powerful gesture and example of solidarity for the eyes of an indifferent world: three refugee families from Syria, including 6 children, boarded the with Francis, destination: Rome.
The Vatican says it will support them financially and they will be cared for by the Saint' Egidio Community that has worked out a program with the Italian government to grant refugees humanitarian visas to live in Italy while their asylum applications are being processed.
(Vatican Radio) “You are not alone”. That was Pope Francis’ message to migrants and refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos where up to half a million asylum seekers have arrived over the past year and a half.His brief visit to the island, alongside Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Orthodox Archbishop Hieronymus of Athens, aimed to draw international attention to the plight of all those fleeing across the Mediterranean sea to escape conflict and persecution in their home countries.Listen to Philippa Hitchen’s report: This was Pope Francis’ 13th journey outside Italy, but as he told journalists on the short plane trip over from Rome to Mytilene, the capital of Lesbos, this visit was different. It was a visit, he said, marked by sadness for the suffering of so many people caught up in the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II.As he did during his first pastoral journey to the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2013, the Pope was able to ...
(Vatican Radio) “You are not alone”. That was Pope Francis’ message to migrants and refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos where up to half a million asylum seekers have arrived over the past year and a half.
His brief visit to the island, alongside Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Orthodox Archbishop Hieronymus of Athens, aimed to draw international attention to the plight of all those fleeing across the Mediterranean sea to escape conflict and persecution in their home countries.
Listen to Philippa Hitchen’s report:
This was Pope Francis’ 13th journey outside Italy, but as he told journalists on the short plane trip over from Rome to Mytilene, the capital of Lesbos, this visit was different. It was a visit, he said, marked by sadness for the suffering of so many people caught up in the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II.
As he did during his first pastoral journey to the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2013, the Pope was able to see and hear that suffering first hand. In the eyes of women, unable to contain tears as they told of losing husbands to the wars in Syria and Iraq.
In the voices of men, weeping openly as they pleaded for him to do something to ensure security for them and their families. In the drawings which children handed to the Pope on crumpled pieces of paper, depicting themselves behind barbed wire fences or in boats making the perilous journey on which many of their friends have drowned.
The Pope and the two Orthodox leaders spent almost an hour walking around the Moria camp, set up to welcome refugees, but since last month’s agreement between the EU and Ankara, transformed into a detention centre where people wait anxiously to learn whether they’ll be sent back to Turkey, or allowed to join family and friends in other European countries. The religious leaders held hands, listened to the stories, gave a blessing and promised to do whatever they can.
Speaking after these visibly moving encounters, Pope Francis said we all know how easy it is “to ignore other people’s suffering and even to exploit their vulnerability”. But he also praised the solidarity of the Greek people who’ve responded generously to the crisis amid their own economic difficulties. Lesbos alone is currently home to almost 90.000 refugees, more than its original population before the crisis began.
Do not lose hope, the Pope said, urging world leaders to “heed these scenes of tragic and indeed desperate need and respond in a way worthy of our common humanity.” His words were echoed by those of Archbishop Hieronymus and Patriarch Bartholomew who said the world will be judged by the way it treats these refugees.
The Patriarch highlighted especially the plight of Christians and other minorities in the region, who need urgent action to guarantee their survival. “We promise that we shall never forget you”, he said, “we will do everything to open the eyes and hearts of the world”.
It was the image of a little Syrian boy’s body, washed up on a Turkish beach last year, that did open eyes and hearts to the unfolding tragedy, causing thousands of volunteers to offer all kinds of support to migrants and refugees.
The Pope, the Patriarch and the Archbishop will be hoping that the images of their short but symbolic visit will open hearts and minds of political leaders across Europe, to look beyond short term interests and find lasting solutions to guarantee safety and dignity to so many suffering families.
(Vatican Radio) As per tradition, Pope Francis sent telegrams to the heads of state of the countries his plane flew over on Saturday during his return trip to Rome from the Greek island of Lesbos.The telegrams to the European countries the Pope has flown over are presented here in their original languages:GreeceHIS EXCELLENCY PROKOPIS PAVLOPOULOSPRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLICATHENSAS I DEPART GREECE I WISH TO RENEW MY GRATITUDE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE GOVERNMENT FOR YOUR GENEROUS ASSISTANCE DURING MY VISIT. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS, I INVOKE UPON THE NATION AND ALL ITS PEOPLE ALMIGHTY GOD’S BLESSINGS OF HARMONY AND PROSPERITY.FRANCISCUS PP.AlbaniaHis Excellency Bujar NishaniPresident of the Republic of AlbaniaTiranëI RENEW MY CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY FROM GREECE TO THE VATICAN. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR ALL THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE, I INVOKE THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEAC...
(Vatican Radio) As per tradition, Pope Francis sent telegrams to the heads of state of the countries his plane flew over on Saturday during his return trip to Rome from the Greek island of Lesbos.
The telegrams to the European countries the Pope has flown over are presented here in their original languages:
Greece
HIS EXCELLENCY PROKOPIS PAVLOPOULOS
PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC
ATHENS
AS I DEPART GREECE I WISH TO RENEW MY GRATITUDE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE GOVERNMENT FOR YOUR GENEROUS ASSISTANCE DURING MY VISIT. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS, I INVOKE UPON THE NATION AND ALL ITS PEOPLE ALMIGHTY GOD’S BLESSINGS OF HARMONY AND PROSPERITY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Albania
His Excellency Bujar Nishani
President of the Republic of Albania
Tiranë
I RENEW MY CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY FROM GREECE TO THE VATICAN. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR ALL THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE, I INVOKE THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND HARMONY UPON THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Italy
A SUA ECCELLENZA
ON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENTE DELLA REPUBBLICA ITALIANA
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE 00187 ROMA
AL RIENTRO DALLA MIA VISITA IN GRECIA, DOVE HO INCONTRATO LE SOFFERENZE E LE SPERANZE DI TANTA GENTE CHE HA DIRITTO AD UN FUTURO DI SERENITA’ E DI PACE, ESPRIMO A LEI SIGNOR PRESIDENTE IL MIO CORDIALE SALUTO, INVOCANDO LA BENEDIZIONE DIVINA SULL’INTERA NAZIONE ITALIANA, AFFINCHé SI AFFERMI OVUNQUE UN SEMPRE PIU’ VIVO INTERESSE PER IL BENE COMUNE
FRANCISCUS PP.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis returned to Rome on Saturday with 12 Syrian refugees whom he took back with him on the plane at the end of his 6-hour visit to Lesbos. Upon arrival, he made his customary visit to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, praying for a short while before the Marian icon Salus populi Romani.The Greek island of Lesbos is on the frontline in receiving hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants fleeing conflict and poverty and during his visit the Pope implored Europe to treat refugees with dignity.The Pope was accompanied on his trip to Lesbos by the Orthodox leader, the Ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew and the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, Ieronymos II. During their visit, the three spiritual leaders signed a joint declaration calling on the international community to make the protection of human lives a priority and to extend temporary asylum to those in need. Earlier they toured the Moria refugee camp where many ...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis returned to Rome on Saturday with 12 Syrian refugees whom he took back with him on the plane at the end of his 6-hour visit to Lesbos. Upon arrival, he made his customary visit to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, praying for a short while before the Marian icon Salus populi Romani.
The Greek island of Lesbos is on the frontline in receiving hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants fleeing conflict and poverty and during his visit the Pope implored Europe to treat refugees with dignity.
The Pope was accompanied on his trip to Lesbos by the Orthodox leader, the Ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew and the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, Ieronymos II.
During their visit, the three spiritual leaders signed a joint declaration calling on the international community to make the protection of human lives a priority and to extend temporary asylum to those in need. Earlier they toured the Moria refugee camp where many of the refugees fell to their knees and wept at the Pope’s feet as the three spiritual leaders toured the camp and met its inmates.
(Vatican Radio) Vatican Weekend for April 16, 2016 offers a special focus on the visit of Pope Francis to Lesbos on Saturday. This is followed by a report on his weekly general audience with pilgrims from across the world and a feature centred around Pius XII and Shakespeare.A programme presented and produced by Veroncia Scarisbrick:
(Vatican Radio) Vatican Weekend for April 16, 2016 offers a special focus on the visit of Pope Francis to Lesbos on Saturday. This is followed by a report on his weekly general audience with pilgrims from across the world and a feature centred around Pius XII and Shakespeare.
A programme presented and produced by Veroncia Scarisbrick:
