Pope Francis urges European countries to take ‘shared responsibility’ for refugees and migrants

Pope Francis appealed to European countries on Wednesday to take “shared responsibility” for refugees and migrants.

Speaking at the general audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Dec. 22, the pope said that his recent trip to Cyprus and Greece showed that some countries were bearing a greater share of the burden than others.

“During my visit to Cyprus and Greece, I was able to once again personally touch wounded humanity in refugees and migrants. I also noted how only some European countries are bearing most of the consequences of this migratory phenomenon in the Mediterranean area, while in reality, a shared responsibility is necessary from which no country can exempt itself,” the pope said.

“In particular, thanks to the generous openness of the Italian authorities, I was able to bring to Rome a group of people I met during my journey: some of them are here among us today. Welcome!”

He went on: “As a Church, we will take care of them during the coming months. This is a small sign that I hope will serve as a stimulus for other European countries, so that they might allow the local ecclesial communities to take care of other brothers and sisters who are in urgent need of being relocated.”

“In fact, there are many local Churches, religious congregations, and Catholic organizations who are ready to welcome and accompany them toward a fruitful integration. All that is needed is an open door.”

The pope issued the appeal towards the end of his live-streamed general audience.

The Holy See press office said that after the audience, the pope greeted a little girl he met during his Dec. 5 visit to the Mavrovouni refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos. It said that the girl was in Rome with her family for treatment, following the pope’s intervention and with the support of the Community of Sant’Egidio.

In his general audience address, the pope reflected on the birth of Jesus, which he described as an event that “history cannot dispense with.”

He noted that because Mary and Joseph could not find a place to stay, Jesus was born in a stable.

He said: “Let’s think: the Creator of the universe… He was not given a place to be born.”