"They flee hatred, and they find in front of them a wall of hatred" ... Pope Francis called on Friday in Nicosia (Cyprus) to "open their eyes" to the "slavery" and "torture" that migrants undergo in the camps, drawing a parallel with World War II.

“It reminds us of the history of the last century, of the Nazis, of Stalin, and we wonder how it could have happened.

But what happened in the past is happening today on the neighboring coasts ”, launched the Pope in a long improvisation during an ecumenical prayer with migrants, on the second day of his visit to Cyprus .

"We watch what happens, and the worst part is that we got used to it"

“There are places of torture, people who are sold.

I say this because it is my responsibility to open my eyes ”, declared the Sovereign Pontiff in front of 250 people gathered in the Church of the Holy Cross in Nicosia, located a few meters from the buffer zone administered by the UN.

“We watch what happens, and the worst part is that we got used to it.

Getting used to it is a very serious illness!

There are no antibiotics against that ", he added during a long improvisation at the end of his speech, denouncing once again" the culture of indifference ".

Pope to bring 50 migrants from Cyprus to Italy

Faced with the “sufferings” of “so many people from whom we have benefited”, Pope Francis stood up against “the war of hatred”, lambasting “those who prevent refugees from entering who ask for fraternity, 'help, joy'.

"We cannot remain silent and look elsewhere in front of this culture of indifference", he launched, seeing in this reality "the history of this developed society which we call the West".

Through this trip - his 35th abroad since his election in 2013 - the Sovereign Pontiff intends to once again focus attention on the issue of migration, the leitmotif of his pontificate and a source of tension in the Mediterranean region.

According to Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Pope Francis should bring back to Italy 50 migrants residing in Cyprus.

World

Pope calls for intervention in Libya's migrant crisis

World

Migrants: Pope calls for a "more inclusive" world

  • Torture

  • World

  • Religion

  • Slavery

  • Solidarity

  • Cyprus

  • Church

  • Migrants

  • Pray

  • Pope Francis

  • 0 comment

  • 0 share

    • Share on Messenger

    • Share on Facebook

    • Share on twitter

    • Share on Flipboard

    • Share on Pinterest

    • Share on Linkedin

    • Send by Mail

  • To safeguard

  • A fault ?

  • To print