Pope Francis brings back 12 Syrian refugees to Vatican after visit to Lesbos
Pope Francis has sent a clear message to the world: refugees are still welcome in Europe. Or at least they should be.
The Pope set a bold example on Saturday by bringing 12 Syrian refugees back to the Vatican on his plane after a heartrending visit to an overcrowded camp on Lebos, the Greek island that has become the center of the growing refugee crisis.
The refugees were from three families, each of which had their homes destroyed by bombs in Syria, according to a statement from the Vatican. One family in particular lived in a region now controlled by the Islamic State.
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"The Pope had wished to make a gesture of welcome and solidarity on behalf of the refugees," the Vatican said in the statement.
"Do not lose hope," Pope Francis is said to have told those gathered for his visit at the Moria refugee camp. "The greatest gift we can offer to one another is love."
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The high-profile visit took place against the backdrop of a growing unease among European countries over the ceaseless influx of refugees from war-torn Syria and elsewhere.
The European Union has already begun deporting refugees back from Greece to Turkey.
Numerous refugees turned out to watch the Pope's visit, holding signs labeling the camp a "prison" and calling on Pope Francis for help.
Thousands of refugees have traveled up through Turkey and sailed to the shores of Lesbos on makeshift rafts, risking death along the way.
Lesbos, once a tourist destination, is now overcrowded with desperate individuals and families permanently in limbo, hoping against hope to find their way to better lives.
Seth Fiegerman was a Senior Business Reporter at Mashable, where he covered startups, marketing and the latest consumer tech trends. He joined Mashable in August 2012 and is based in New York.Before joining Mashable, Seth covered all things Apple as a reporter at Silicon Alley Insider, the tech section of Business Insider. He has also worked as a staff writer at TheStreet.com and as an editor at Playboy Magazine. His work has appeared in Newsweek, NPR, Kiplinger, Portfolio and The Huffington Post.Seth received his Bachelor of Arts from New York University, where he majored in journalism and philosophy.In his spare time, Seth enjoys bike riding around Brooklyn and writing really bad folk songs.
