Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
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Rome (Agenzia Fides) - "About 7 million refugees are expected if a truce is not reached in the 27 countries of the European Union. A considerable number, given that according to UNHCR 8 million people are fleeing throughout the planet". This was underlined by Sister Neusa de Fatima Mariano, superior general of the Missionary Sisters of Saint Charles Borromeo/Scalabrinian, a Congregation that has been dealing with assistance to migrants and refugees since its foundation, in a note sent to Fides.
"In Ukraine just under 300 thousand people have crossed the border with Poland, another 200 thousand are already in Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia. Europe is, once again, hit in the heart. What we can do is continue to welcome, be in solidarity and pray. According to the UN, it is the worst humanitarian crisis that has hit Europe in recent decades and is yet another demonstration that the entire planet must mobilize for peace - continues the superior general of the Sclabrinians -. A solidarity and aid platform is the basis for containing the enormous damage that is deriving from it".
"Let us make ours Pope Francis’ appeals in order to put an end to these hostilities - concludes Sister Neusa de Fatima Mariano -. We firmly join today's Day of Prayer and Fasting and let us recall the words of the Pontiff 'those who make war forget humanity'. This is what is happening in Ukraine as well as in many other parts of the world. It is time to pray, be united, offer ourselves gestures of solidarity, educate ourselves to gestures of peace in our realities, in order to help peace to shine on the planet". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 2/3/2022)
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