Daniela Pompei, Community of Sant'Egidio: the pope's arrival in Cyprus is a boost for everyone

Share

02 December 2021

The fact that Pope Francis will meet Christians and Orthodox in the two countries I think is already a significant, ecumenical and very important gesture. Here there are many migrants who are inserted and work in Cyprus: it is very nice to see the Catholic churches full of foreign citizens. While in the northern part of Cyprus in recent years many immigrants from African countries have been arriving, often by sea, from Syria or Lebanon, who seek asylum.

The expectation is very great and festive, even on the part of the civil authorities; even the taxi drivers are very happy when they see us operators, and they are equally happy with the visit of Pope Francis. Catholics can't wait to listen to him, to hear words of hope and also words that, in some respects, call for a conversion. It is the realization of the encyclical "Brothers all". Catholics in these two countries are in the minority, but all confessions coexist peacefully while respecting their differences. Pope Francis is looked upon with great respect, as demonstrated by the fact that he was invited not only by the civil authorities. People are probably expecting a message from him that could touch upon ancient problems linked to Turkey with regard to the two countries, there will also be an ecumenical discourse. In conclusion,the pope's arrival is a boost for everyone.

There is a dialogue that starts from below, from a spirit of fraternity that brings everyone together. During the summer the community of Sant'Egidio was in Lesbos with a presence of more than 250 volunteers working in the refugee camp, coming from all the countries of the European Union. This year there was a very significant stretch on the Island. We prayed intensely together with the Orthodox and the bishops, in the open, right in the place where Saint Paul landed centuries ago, for the memory of the refugees who died in the sea flight and of the refugees who tried to arrive from Turkey to Greece in the latter. years. The Orthodox also come to give us a hand. It is in Charity where we can find dialogue together.

I think that the Pope's presence in these two countries indicates the path of encounter and dialogue, with the hope of finding solutions to the problems that obviously exist. In Cyprus the division caused by the presence of the wall that has divided the country since 1974 is certainly striking. Unfortunately, in Europe the walls have increased, especially towards those who ask for help and refuge. Pope Francis with his message strongly strengthens the bonds of fraternity and humanity. There is also an ecumenical value starting from service to the suffering, and prayer is a way to come together.

We must be close, present in these places of suffering. The mere presence of the pope in places of suffering also helps many Christians, and not only, to say that it is possible to be close to the people who suffer more than us. Pope Francis was in Lesbos already in 2016; the message is that he has not forgotten about them, these people, these peoples, these places and therefore he wants to return also for an emotional problem, he wants to visit his children to be next to them especially in such difficult moments, touching the wounds of a wounded humanity; it also means to the whole world that it is necessary to be close to these people, to pray and to do something, where possible. He wants there to be more attention from states, governments, peoples to the least of this land.

In Cyprus we have come from the increase of immigrants in recent years. We arrived on the island of Lesbos in 2016 with the Pope and we have never abandoned it again. We have opened humanitarian corridors. A relocation program from Greece to Italy arrived yesterday with 46 refugees. The meaning of the humanitarian corridor is to find a legal route, that is, a programmed and protected entrance, with numbers that can be managed, with an integration path that begins upon arrival at the airport. I am convinced that governments and states could find solutions, do much more, by applying serious entry policies. This is very important.

I think it is a problem of real knowledge of people and fear of what is unknown. They are men, women and children who flee from wars bringing with them very strong wounds and suffering. We have to start talking about them differently, they are normal people like us, we need to have more respect, they are people who live in the refugee camp, but they are people full of dignity. The misfortunes they are afflicted with could happen to any of us. We must not forget the wars we also had in Europe, in the former Yugoslavia. To escape are doctors, professionals, students who find themselves having to flee at any moment. Somehow you need to have an attitude of understanding and empathy. We must continue to talk about them, and to make these people known, in the true dimension of those who come among us.Arriving at the airport and arriving by sea fleeing, with the desperation that this entails, we cannot say that it is the same thing.