Pope Francis, on Sunday, referred to the plight of migrants as a “shipwreck of civilisation”. Amid calls for better treatment of immigrants, the Pope called on leaders not to exploit migrants for politics.
The Pope met briefly with Konstantinos Tassoulas, the Speaker of the Greek Parliament, and Alexis Tsipras, the leader of the largest opposition party, who thanked him for his "unwavering defence of human rights and social justice."
Francis spoke with the head of the Greek Orthodox Church and visited the Mavrovouni tent camp on Lesbos during his quick visit. Later, people gathered under a tent to sing hymns and psalms to the pontiff, who was visibly moved as he listened.
The Mavrovouni camp was rapidly built in haste after Moria, Europe's largest refugee campsite at the time, burned down last year. In his speech, Francis warned that the Mediterranean “is becoming a grim cemetery without tombstones” and that “after all this time, we see that little in the world has changed with regard to the issue of migration”.
The pope has always advocated for migrants, and his visit came after a searing reprimand to Europe, which he said was, “torn by nationalist egoism.”
Removed Paris archbishop because of gossip
Pope Francis said Monday he accepted the resignation of the archbishop of Paris because the monsignor could no longer govern effectively thanks to the gossip about his relationship with a woman a decade ago. Francis was asked en route home from Greece about the surprise decision, which came only days after Archbishop Michel Aupetit put his fate in Francis' hands following French media reports about what he said was an ambiguous relationship with a woman. French media reports also cited governance problems as a possible reason underlying Francis' decision. Responding to a question from a French reporter, Francis said there had been some lapses with Aupetit involving sexual sins.
When the gossip grows and grows and removes someone's good name, he cannot govern, Francis said. This is an injustice, Francis added. Francis accepted the resignation almost immediately, with the Vatican announcing it while the pope was flying to Cyprus on Dec. Francis said he hadn't read the report but he stressed that with any such historical evaluation, it must be interpreted through the prism of the period under study.
