Pontiff says refugees are gifts, not problem

Ben Bassey 13:45 - 19 April 2016

Pope Francis says refugees are gifts, not problem

"Treated like a burden, a problem, a cost, you are instead a gift,’’ Francis said in the video which he directly addressed refugees.

Pope Francis on Tuesday issued a fresh call for solidarity toward migrants in a video message sent to the Italian chapter of the Jesuit Refugee Service, an international Catholic charity.

He said "forgive the closure and the indifference of our societies, which are afraid of the changes in lifestyle and mentality that your presence requires.

The remarks came three days after Francis visited a migrant centre on the Greek island of Lesbos and returned to Rome with 12 Syrian refugees who would be taken care of by the Vatican.