Posted on 07/08/2013 11:03:06 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Pope Francis, on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan, Monday said Muslim migrants in Italy had the support of the Catholic Church.
"I sent heartfelt greetings to dear Muslim immigrants who, this evening (Monday), will begin the Ramadan fast, and wish them abundant spiritual rewards," Pope Francis said as he held mass on the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa.
"The Church is close to you in your search for better lives for yourselves and your families," Francis said.
During his visit to Lampedusa, his first outside Rome as pontiff, Francis said he came to the island to "awaken consciences".
Around 15,000 people attended the mass.
Lampedusa is the main European arrival point for migrants from North Africa. Thousands of migrants arrive on the island each year by boat during the summer months.
Several thousands of migrants have drowned or died of dehydration during the dangerous journey across the southern Mediterranean, often crammed into unsafe boats.
"When I heard a few weeks ago that more immigrants had drowned, the news was like a thorn piercing my heart," Francis said.
He was referring to an incident in June when at least 10 migrants drowned off Malta after a Tunisian fishing boat allegedly refused to rescue them.
"I felt I must come to Lampedusa to pray that such a tragedy doesn't happen again," the Pope said.
"We have lost our sense of fraternal responsibility," he said.
"The culture of affluence has made us insensitive to the needs of others. We are living in a soap bubble, a situation that makes us indifferent to others, indeed which has led to the globalisation of indifference."
The pontiff met around 50 migrants at Lampedusa's port and was then taken on a short boat ride to a nearby bay, where he cast a wreath into the sea in memory of migrants who had died.
Earlier Monday, as many as 165 migrants including four women arrived in Lampedusa. Media reports say Lampedusa's migration centre is suffering from chronic overcrowding.
Were they driving Edsels?...........
NO
Yugo’s
Thank God Mexico is not a Muslim country.
May God grant them abundantly the grace of repentance and conversion to Christ.
Yugo, girls!...........
THIS is what I DON’T like about this Pope. He did this on Good Friday too, chillin’ with the Muzzies...while failing to denounce Islamic mass murder of Christians worldwide.
Indeed, if the power was in the Muslims hands? The Catholics would be slaughtered.
The Pope should preach to the people causing the problems.
Moslems in Italy welcomed by Pope?
This will not have a good ending!
Sorry, Pope, but they aren’t just people who practice a different religion. They plan to eliminate Christianity and replace it with their cult.
Ship him off to the funny farm. He’s forgotten world history from the seventh century on, which is an endless story of brutal, unprovoked Muslim conquest of Christian lands that was heroically resisted, with the Church courageously leading that resistance. He’s repudiating the great historic role of the Church of which he’s the leader. Shame on him.
The One World Church is being gathered! God’s true church is watching it happen and recognizing it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.