syrian child refugees to pope of new life in rome
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Syrian child refugees to Pope of new life in Rome

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Syrian child refugees to Pope of new life in Rome

Pope Francis reads a book to Syrian refugee children
Vatican City - Arab Today

Young Syrian refugees who Pope Francis brought home with him after a trip to Greece laughed and joked with the pontiff Thursday as they told him of their new life in Italy.

The seven children were part of a group of 21 Syrian refugees given a new start in Rome after the pope's intervention following a visit to the Greek Island of Lesbos in April.

All 21 sat down for lunch with him at the Casa Santa Marta, a Vatican guesthouse, with the children presenting him with a book of their drawings.

"It was a moving, family moment... they spoke in Italian, which they have been learning... they told him about their life, where they came from, their country, their town, but also what they are doing in Rome," said Daniela Pompei, of the Saint'Egidio religious community, which is temporarily housing the families.

"They thanked him, because he saved their life (and) the children little by little became more confident and started to play with the pope, laughing, making jokes, something that greatly amused the holy father," she added.

The refugees came to Italy in two groups in April and June.

Twelve of the group were brought to Rome by the pope himself in April at the end of a trip to Lesbos in Greece aimed at highlighting the plight of hundreds of thousands of refugees arriving on the shores of Europe.

Another nine who had also been living in a transit camp on the Greek island after making the perilous sea crossing from Turkey were brought to Italy in June.

Francis has repeatedly condemned Western society for its indifference to refugees, making the cause of migrants trying to reach Europe one of the defining themes of his papacy.

Over 1.1 million people have crossed clandestinely from Turkey to Greece since the start of 2015, with hundreds drowning en route. Many of them are Syrians, fleeing the horrors of the country's war.

Arrivals in Greece fell sharply after Turkey agreed in March to take back anyone denied asylum in return for billions in EU cash and other concessions. Human rights groups have criticised the arrangement.

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

syrian child refugees to pope of new life in rome syrian child refugees to pope of new life in rome

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

syrian child refugees to pope of new life in rome syrian child refugees to pope of new life in rome

 



GMT 15:44 2016 Friday ,25 March

Nets spoil LeBron James' big night

GMT 14:22 2016 Sunday ,07 August

Olympics: Records fall as Games start with a bang

GMT 10:42 2016 Thursday ,24 November

Tuscan city forced to live without its honeypot

GMT 20:39 2017 Friday ,29 September

Julia Louis-Dreyfus announces she has breast cancer

GMT 07:49 2016 Thursday ,22 December

Goodyear Eagle-360 wins prestigious design award

GMT 12:02 2017 Sunday ,24 September

Harry visits mental health hospital

GMT 17:47 2017 Thursday ,01 June

US firm PPG scrubs bid to takeover AkzoNobel

GMT 23:10 2017 Wednesday ,25 October

Etihad Aviation Group launches second year of acclaimed

GMT 16:07 2017 Thursday ,30 March

Jordan Joint Chief of Staff Meets US Official
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday