Pope laments violence against refugees
November 17, 2014
Following his November 16 Angelus address, Pope Francis lamented the recent violence against refugees in Rome.
“In these days in Rome there have been very strong tensions between residents and immigrants,” he said.
“I invite the institutions, at all levels, to take as a priority that which now constitutes a social emergency and that, if not addressed promptly and in an adequate way, risks becoming worse,” he continued. “The Christian community is committed to this in a concrete way, so that there may be an encounter and not confrontation. Citizens and immigrants, with the representatives of institutions, can meet each other, even in a room in the parish, to talk together about the situation.”
He added:
The important thing is to not give in to the temptation of confrontation, to reject all violence. It is possible to dialogue, to listen, to plan together, And in this way overcome suspicion and prejudice and build a more secure, peaceful and inclusive coexistence.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Le parole del Papa alla recita dell’Angelus (Holy See Press Office)
- Pope's Angelus Address: Do Not Preserve God's Grace in a Safe! (Zenit)
- Rome riot police to prevent attacks on refugees (AP)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!