Pope Wants To Talk About Migration In Marseille

Horrible dramas proceed to happen within the Mediterranean area. Individuals flee their houses and drown through the harmful crossing to Europe. Pope Francis has repeatedly identified the struggling of refugees.

This begins on the routes in Africa, for instance when persons are tortured and enslaved in reception camps in North Africa. In accordance with the Pope, the drama of the refugees takes place earlier than they depart. “The Mediterranean is a cemetery, but it surely’s not the most important cemetery. The largest cemetery is North Africa. It’s horrible. That’s why I’m going to Marseille.”

Interreligious initiative

Bishops, representatives of various religions and, above all, many younger individuals from round 30 nations meet in France’s second largest metropolis. All of them dwell within the Mediterranean area, all of them face related challenges – comparable to migration.

The port metropolis of Marseille is synonymous with immigration; nearly all of its roughly 870,000 residents have overseas roots. Muslims, Jews, Christians and even Buddhists dwell collectively in very small areas. Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline is archbishop there. In accordance with Aveline, the concept was that the Pope may meet with the non secular leaders.

There was an initiative in Marseille since 1990 known as Marseille Espérance, i.e. “Marseille Hope”. Representatives of all main religions come collectively on this initiative. Within the face of poverty, drug trafficking and brutal crime, they need to preserve dialogue. “Mediterranean. Mosaic of Hope” can be the motto of the multi-day convention during which the Pope will participate.

Environmental issues are additionally in focus

Along with migration, the individuals of the Mediterranean area face many different challenges, comparable to environmental issues, says Aveline. The Mediterranean is already severely affected and can proceed to be so sooner or later.

Up to now, such extreme issues haven’t been recognized within the Mediterranean area. “The environmental points usually are not simply climatic points. They’re additionally about entry to water, for instance,” mentioned Aveline.

“Tackling the problem of migration collectively”

The issues must be addressed collectively. After conferences in Bari and Florence, that is the third convention as a part of these so-called Mediterranean conferences. Group is vital to the Pope, particularly in the case of migration.

Through the Angelus prayer final Sunday, he emphasised that this was not a simple problem. You see that within the information lately. However the problem have to be addressed collectively. “It’s important for the way forward for everybody and it’ll solely be good whether it is constructed on brotherhood, placing human dignity, particular individuals, particularly these most in want, first,” mentioned the 86-year-old Argentine.

Assembly with Macron

In Marseille, Francis can even meet with French President Emmanuel Macron. Its authorities is more and more taking a harder strategy in the direction of irregular migrants, and France’s border controls with Italy have been strengthened.

It’s anticipated that the Pope will focus much more on the destiny of refugees. He desires to commemorate the migrants who drowned within the sea on the monument to the victims and heroes of the ocean within the harbor entrance. It’s a clear sign to Europe.

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