Papal visit to Mediterranean island will highlight plight of immigrants, refugees

July 01, 2013

Pope Francis will travel on July 8 to the island of Lampedusa-- an Italian island set in the Mediterranean roughly equidistant from Siciliy and Tunisia—to pray for refugees and migrants, the Vatican has announced.

The Pope was “deeply touched by the recent sinking of a boat carrying migrants from Africa,” the Vatican announcement revealed. He will make the trip to the isolated island in a gesture to pray for both victims of such tragedies and survivors, to call new attention to the plight of desperate refugees who face dangers and hardships as they travel, and to encourage others to care for migrants in need.

 

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Further information:

• Pope to travel to the Italian island of Lampedusa (Vatican Radio)