P
ope Francis invites eight
migrant children who
recently arrived in Italy
from Libya to take a
ride with him on the
popemobile as he makes his way
through St. Peter’s Square for the
weekly General Audience.
By Linda Bordoni
Making his way to the podium in
front of the Basilica before the Gen-
eral Audience, Pope Francis asked
the popemobile driver to stop to
allow eight children to jump aboard
for a ride.
Alessandro Gisotti, the interim
Director of the Holy See Press
Office told journalists that some of
the kids had arrived in Italy from
Libya through a “humanitarian cor-
ridor” on 29 April, while the others
reached shore on a migrant boat a
few months ago.
They were all wearing T-shirts
that said “Welcome, protect,
promote and integrate” the appeal
coined by Pope Francis in his mes-
sage for the World Day of Migrants
and Refugees.
He said they belong to different
nationalities including Syrian,
Nigerian and Congolese, and are
currently hosted, together with
their families, by an association on
the outskirts of Rome.
The self-funded “Humanitarian
Corridors” project, which Pope
Francis has repeatedly upheld, is
carried out by the Community
of Sant’Egidio in collaboration
with the Federation of Evangelical
Churches and the Waldensian and
Methodist Churches. It aims to
avoid migrant journeys on boats
in the Mediterranean in which so
many – usually trafficked people
– have died, and at the same time
fight human trafficking.
It is able to grant people in
“vulnerable conditions” (victims of
persecution, torture and violence,
as well as families with children,
elderly people, sick people, and per-
sons with disabilities) legal entry on
Italian territory with humanitarian
visas, and the possibility to apply
for asylum.
The project also responds to
national security requirements
because visa issuing procedures
demand all the necessary checks by
Italian authorities Once in Italy, the
refugees are welcomed in houses
at the expense of the associations
involved and are offered Italian
language lessons, school enrolment
for the children, and activities that
promote integration and the search
for employment.
