• In a statement released ahead of Pope Francis’ visit to the Greek island of Lesbos the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) says the papal visit could not come at a more critical time.
    The statement says that the recent EU deal with Ankara that pushes back refugees and migrants arriving to the Greek shores to Turkey is in clear violation of international law “and the principle of non-refoulement or not pushing back people in need of protection. 
    “During a time when push backs are seemingly the solution being put forward by the EU, we hope the Pope’s visit is not just a symbol of hope for refugees, but a concrete push for the Greek government and other European states to actualise those hopes,” said Fr Thomas Smolich SJ, JRS International Director.
    JRS Greece is present in Athens and in Lesbos, providing emergency assistance. 
    In Athens, JRS runs a shelter for newly arrived or homeless refugees as well as an integration Centre. 
    In the statement JRS concludes that it believes that the way forward for Europe is for governments to: ensure effective access to protection to all refugees regardless of nationality; not detain and provide special attention to the needs of particularly at-risk people such as unaccompanied minors in transit; and consider cases for asylum on an individual basis.
    Source: Vatican Radio