Fr Lombardi on refugees: Pope Francis shows us the way
(Vatican Radio) Amongst those present for the publication of the 2014 Centro Astalli
Annual report in Rome, was the Director of the Vatican Press Office, Father Federico
Lombardi.
The event took place as yet another rescue effort by the Italian
Navy in the Mediterranean lent assistance to an overcrowded boat in difficulty carrying
some 200 people, many of whom women and children. Amongst them, at least one person
has reportedly died.
The Centro Astalli, which is part of the Jesuit
Refugee Service umbrella, and works in Rome to offer a wide range of services
to the tens of thousands of forced migrants who arrive in the city, was spotlighted
last September when Pope Francis chose to spend some time with the refugees there,
showing his solidarity and support for their cause and their search for freedom and
dignity.
In the year 2013 the Centre received 21,000 requests from asylum
seekers and forced migrants, struggling to provide them with first assistance, legal
assistance, medical care and cultural tools. This, against all odds, in a city
which is seriously undermined by the global economic crisis and soaring levels of
unemployment.
Father Lombardi points out that, with his actions as well
as his words, the Pope shows the way in receiving, accepting and integrating forced
migrants and refugees, putting into practice a new “culture of encounter”.
Speaking
to a crowded auditorium, Father Lombardi said that Pope Francis’ presence at the JRS-run
Center and soup kitchen, suddenly gave visibility to the tragic predicament of the
tens of thousands of poor and vulnerable people who arrive on our shores in search
of peace, dignity and freedom, and find themselves fighting against all odds in a
society that is struggling in the throes of the economic crisis.
Lombardi spoke
of Francis’ extraordinary warmth and charisma, of his capacity to reach out and communicate
with the directness that we have all come to appreciate so much.
However he
pointed to a line of continuity saying that the particular attention of the Pope for
forced migrants and refugees goes back a long way in the history of the Papacy. He
pointed to speeches by Popes Pius X, Benedict XV, Pius XII, Paul VI, John Paul II
(and his many visits to refugee camps during his journeys), and Benedict XVI and his
speeches and his moving visit to a refugee camp in the Holy Land – all of them witnesses
of the Church’s commitment to support and be close to these most vulnerable people.
Listen
to Linda Bordoni's interview with Father Lombardi...
“I am here
to witness the great attention of Pope Francis for this problem” he said.
Right
from the beginning of his Pontificate, Lombardi says – Pope Francis has had
the question at heart, not only with his reflections, but also taking concrete initiatives
in this field.
“His trip to Lampedusa was the first sign of incredible
strength (in this regard), then he came to visit, here in Rome the Astalli Centre
as a second step in his interest of the ‘way’ of the refugees” he said.
After
their difficult journey from Africa and the dangerous sea crossing taht brings them
to Europe “they have to be received here, to be helped for their integration into
society, and this is the great value of the activity of the Centro Astalli: to try
to find concrete models to help the people, through language, through different legal
procedures and so on, to find a way to become an active part of society in lands that
accept them as citizens with total dignity” he said.
This is really the
aim – Father Lombardi said – of Centro Astalli and of all the activities of Jesuit
Refugee Service and of the activities of the Church for refugees: “to help people
that cannot be recognized in their dignity in their homelands, to find lands where
they can be really active, creative and positive members of society”. This is what
we have to do and the Pope demonstrated his full commitment to go in this direction.
Lombardi
recalls that Francis also invited religious communities to open up their convents
to offer hospitality and welcome to refugees.
“We have to find concrete actions
and models to help refugees to find the way to a free and dignified participation
in society”.
As highlighted by the Annual Report, one of the obstacles many
forced migrants have to face is a cultural one as often, they are seen with fear and
mistrust. In this regard Father Lombardi says “from our side we need an attitude,
an attitude of readiness to understand and to listen with patience because it is not
always so easy to do” he said.
He also pointed to concrete measures like helping
them in understanding the language, the laws and the organization of the society that
is receiving them.
“In this sense we offer a first assistance like food and
lodging, but we also have to give a cultural and spiritual reception to them” he said.
Father
Lombardi says that Pope Francis’s behavior offers an example: “he does first
first what we have to do; he flies where the problems are – where the refugees arrive;
he goes to the Centre where the refugees come every day to be accepted, and then he
demonstrates that we have to engage in this direction” he said.
“He has
not the solution, the theoretical or political or social solution, but he gives us
the inspiration and the direction” he said.
For details on the Centro Astalli
Annual Report 2014 please visit www.centroastalli.it