(ANSA) - Vatican City, December 4 - Pope Francis's Almoner,
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, called for Catholic churches to be
opened to refugees as he arrived in Italy on Wednesday with a
group of 33 asylum seekers who were on the Greek island of
Lesbos.
The refugees will be hosted by the Holy See, through its
Almoner's Office, and the Comunità di Sant'Egidio Catholic
pro-migrant and diplomatic community.
"Starting with me, let's open our rectories, our convents,
our monasteries to at least one family each from the Lesbos
refugee camps so that we can empty them all," Krajewski said.
"I have seen terrible situations in the camps on the island
of Lesbos.
"There were 7,000 people in May. Today there are over 15,000
with 800 unaccompanied children.
"There is no hope for them stuck in Greece today.
"They are living in dramatic conditions.
"It is a problem for Europe and shameful".
Let's open churches to refugees says Vatican
Almoner makes appeal as he arrives with refugees from Lesbos