Premier Matteo Renzi told
German Chancellor Angela Merkel Monday there is a "change of
pace" in some European countries on migrants as the Vicar of
Rome said an appeal by Pope Francis to Italians would encourage
Christians in the Eternal City to be generous to refugees.
Renzi in a telephone conversation with Merkel voiced
appreciation for Germany's new stance on migrants, saying "there
is a significant change of direction and pace" in some European
countries on the issue.
The conversation took place as El Pais newspaper disclosed
the European Commission plans to assign some 60% of 120,000
refugees waiting in Italy, Greece and Hungary to Germany (which
will receive 31,433 refugees), France (24,031) and Spain
(14,931). In fourth place in the classification, Poland will
receive 9.287 refugees or 7-7% of the total, Holland 7,214,
Romania 4,646, Belgium 4564, Austria 3,640 and Portugal 3074, El
Pais said.
The EU plan overrides the Visegrad Group of eastern european
countries who have opposed obligatory quotas, with the exception
of Poland which softened its position.
Nevertheless Brussels reduced the number of refugees
earmarked for the Czech Republic (2978) and Slovakia (1,502)
while Hungary was waived the obligation of playing host to
refugees.
Meanwhile the Vicar of Rome, Cardinal Agostino Vallini, said
Monday that an appeal Sunday by the pope "our bishop ...
encourages the Christian community to persevere in following
with generosity the path of welcome and hospitality."
The cardinal recalled "the consolidated commitment by the
diocese of Rome over the years thanks to the daily work by the
diocesan (Catholic charity) Caritas and the generous
collaboration of parishes and religious communities".
Vallini said he recently convened the Episcopal Council and
suggested ways that parish and religious communities can involve
themselves in helping refugees urgently.
"It is not possible to remain indifferent," said the
cardinal, and "our conscience as Christians is appealed to
directly".
The first Caritas centre for welcoming migrants in Rome
dates to 1981 when it was set up in the via
Francis Sunday called on Catholics of Europe to pitch in to
help in the current immigrant crisis overwhelming the continent,
by asking parishes and shrines to each host at least one family.
"May every parish, every religious community, every
monastery, every shrine in Europe host a family," the pope said
in St. Peter's Square following his traditional Angelus prayers.
The pope said the action "will start with my Roman diocese"
and announced that the two Vatican parishes will each host a
family of refugees.
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