Italy Catholic Sant Egidio Community

Italian government: Sant’Egidio has worked out a program with the Italian government to grant deserving refugees humanitarian visas to live in Italy while their asylum applications are being processed, according to Toronto Star. The Vatican said Francis wanted to make a gesture of welcome at the end of his five-hour visit to Lesbos, where he implored Europe to respond to the migrant crisis on its shores in a way that is worthy of our common humanity. The Vatican said the three families, including six children, would be supported by the Holy See and cared for by Italy Catholic Sant’Egidio Community. The Greek island just a few miles from the Turkish coast has seen hundreds of thousands of desperate people land on its shores in the last year, fleeing war and poverty at home. HANDOUT/ REUTERSPope Francis greets children as he leaves the port of Mytilene, during his visit on the Greek Island of Lesbos. Francis visited Lesbos alongside the spiritual leader of the world Orthodox Christians and the head of the Church of Greece to thank Greece for its welcome and highlight the plight of refugees as the European Union implements a controversial plan to deport them back to Turkey. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.