photo: vaticannews.va
VATICAN CITY / Pope Francis has called for better treatment of refugees: 'We are all called to welcome, support, accompany and integrate all those who knock on our doors. I pray that states will take measures to provide humane conditions for refugees and facilitate integration processes," he said this Wednesday at the end of a general audience in St Peter's Square.
Vatican News
The Pope spoke on the occasion of World Refugee Day, which the United Nations commemorates on 20 June: 'May this be an opportunity to turn an attentive and fraternal gaze towards all those who are forced to leave their homes in search of peace and security,' Francis urged.
The Pope also made another urgent appeal for peace:
"Brothers and sisters, let us continue to pray for peace. War is always a defeat, right from the beginning. Let us pray for peace in the suffering Ukraine, in the Holy Land, in Sudan, in Myanmar and everywhere where people suffer because of war. Let us pray for peace every day!"
Prayer for the Chinese nation
At the end of the General Audience, Pope Francis also recalled that 2024 will mark 100 years since the First Chinese Council (Primum Concilium Sinense) from 1924 in Shanghai Cathedral:
"It also makes me think of the beloved Chinese people. Let us always pray for this noble and courageous nation that has such a beautiful culture. Let us pray for the Chinese people."
In May, the Pontifical Urbaniana University hosted an international congress entitled "One Hundred Years of Concilium Sinense: between Past and Present", which commemorated the centenary of the First Council of the Catholic Church in China. In 2018, the Holy See and China signed a provisional agreement on the joint appointment of bishops, which has already been extended twice. At the aforementioned congress, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin expressed hope for a third extension.
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