Pope Francis on Thursday had lunch in Vatican City with a group of Syrian refugee families who he had airlifted out of Greece in recent months.
Greg Burke, Vatican Spokesman, said that the pontiff visited the overwhelmed Greek island of Lesbos in April and, in a surprise gesture of solidarity, put 12 refugee camp residents on his return plane and offered them shelter in Rome.
He said that another nine followed in June.
Burke said that the 21 refugees were invited to the papal residence of Santa Marta to eat with Francis and other senior Vatican officials, including the two Vatican police guards who escorted the Syrians out of Lesbos.
The spokesperson noted that the refugees, both adults and children had a chance to speak to Pope Francis about starting out their lives in Italy.
“The children gave the pope a collection of their drawings, and the Pope reciprocated with toys and other gifts.
Burke said that the refugees are being looked after by the Community of Sant’Egidio, a Catholic non-governmental organisation that runs its own refugee airlift scheme, flying in from Lebanon displaced Syrians and Iraqis. (dpa/NAN)
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