Pope receives UN High Commissioner for Refugees

December 06, 2013 - Among several persons that Pope Francis received in the Vatican on Friday was the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres. A communique by the UNHCR said the Pope and Gutteres shared their concerns about the extent of the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the enormous effort necessary to support the neighbouring countries, which currently are hosting over two million refugees.'' Guterres reiterated what he called '' the serious condition of over 45 million people forced to flee in the world '' and expressed his deep appreciation for the work done by the Pope in drawing attention of the public to the plight of refugees and displaced persons, and also perilous journeys the asylum seekers and migrants undertake to cross the frontiers of seas and lands of the world.
Pope Francis has several times demonstrated and voiced his concern for the plight of refugees and migrants. He dedicated his first pastoral visit outside Rome to the Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean, July 8, where he paid homage to the migrants and refugees, mainly from Africa, who have drowned while trying to make it to Europe. Being closer to Africa than the Italian mainland, Lampedusa is the frequent destination of migrants and refugees, mostly from Africa. The Holy Father has lamented that we all have forgotten how to cry for migrants lost at sea. He denounced smugglers who get rich by exploiting the poverty of migrants by transporting them to Italy in overcrowded boats. He has condemned "slave labour" and trafficking, and lashed out at restrictive policies and prejudices against immigrants saying migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity. (Source: Vatican/UNHCR)