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Pope asks forgiveness for those who reject refugees

Pope asks forgiveness for those who reject refugees

Northern League chief says 'we don't need forgiveness'

Vatican City, 17 June 2015, 20:33

ANSA Editorial

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-     ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Pope Francis urged the faithful Wednesday to forgive people and institutions "who close the door" to refugees, calling on the international community to give them "a home where they can live without fear". "I invite you all to ask forgiveness for the persons and institutions that close the door to these people who are seeking a life, a family, who are looking for protection," the pontiff said during his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square. Francis noted that many people seek a "refuge far from their land," and "a home where they can live without fear, so that their dignity can always be respected". The Argentine pope encouraged "the work of those who come in aid" of refugees and said he hopes that "the international community will act in a united and effective manner to prevent the causes of forced migrations".
    The pope spoke as elsewhere in Italy, leaders from the anti-immigrant, anti-euro Northern League party clamored for an end to migrant arrivals and redistribution across Italy.
    Among these is the League governor of Lombardy, Roberto Maroni, who has been leading a drive to reject asylum seekers being relocated to other parts of the country after landing in southern Italy.
    Maroni was echoed Wednesday by fellow League member and newly re-elected Veneto Governor Luca Zaia, who said his wealthy northern region is not racist, but there is no room for more refugees. "I live in a territory that is not racist, but now there's no more room to spare," he told a parliamentary commission on the migrant reception system in Italy and the application of the Schengen accords. Veneto is already hosting 3,966 refugees and is not willing to accept more, said the governor.
    In Venice, newly elected Mayor Luigi Brugnaro called for a naval blockade to stop migrants from arriving in Italy. "We need to impose a naval blockade, given that migrants are departing from all over Africa as we speak," said the mayor, who hails from Silvio Berlusconi's center-right Forza Italia (FI) party and won a run-off vote at the weekend with Northern League backing. "State officials swear an oath on the flag and on the Italian people," Brugnaro went on. "They are supposed to defend our homes, our people and the fatherland," he said. "Whoever is up for it must militarily defend our borders," the mayor added. "Those who are not up for it must resign".
    Also on Wednesday, Northern League leader Matteo Salvini said he doesn't need the pope's forgiveness. "How many refugees are there in the Vatican?" Salvini, who has called for a hard-line stance in dealing with the Mediterranean migrant crisis, told his party's Radio Padania. "The problem is only a quarter of those who arrive are refugees (while the rest are economic migrants)".
    "We do't need to be forgiven," Salvini said. Later in the day, parliament mandated the government of center-left Premier Matteo Renzi to come up with proposals for a new European political asylum system that would be fairly distribute refugees between member states. The vote took place as Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Sandro Gozi told French radio that "the Mediterranean is a cemetery of European selfishness and indifference" to the plight of migrants. "If we want the populists and xenophobes to win we will continue" (along these lines) he told Europe 1.
    "It was said the Mediterranean is the cradle of European civilisation - today it is the symbol of European selfishness and indifference," Gozi said.
   

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