Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has repeatedly prayed for people suffering in the Middle East, especially Christians. The Pope has urged concrete steps be taken to help refugees.
POPE FRANCIS
September 6, 2015
'Faced with the tragedy of tens of thousands of refugees who flee death from war and hunger, and who have begun a journey moved by vital hope, the Gospel calls us to be 'neighbors' of the weakest and the abandoned. To give them concrete hope. Itâ??s not enough to say, 'Take heart. Be patient.'â?
While he has called on the international community to help refugees, Pope Francis also believes it's important to solve the root cause of the problem.
One organization is working to ensure that the United Nations moves beyond rhetoric. They've launched a global petition calling on the UN Security Council to develop a plan to protect religious freedom and human rights in Syria and Iraq; adopt a legal framework to sanction the Islamic State; and approve measures to stop people who fund the terrorist group.
LUCA VOLONTí?
Novae Terrae Foundation
'We're hoping that they will approve finally something real. Not only good words, not only good disappointment, but also something very positive, very practical and concrete to defend these Christians and these religious minorities in these martyrized countries.â?
The petition already has more than 130,000 signatures from throughout the world, and their goal is to reach 200,000.
While it's important for the government to act, he said the Church can also make a big difference in helping people until real change comes.
LUCA VOLONTí?
Novae Terrae Foundation
'Other churches, other bishop conferences around the world could move, could act to prepare some national plans to receive these people that have had their lives destroyed. Many of them, a part of their family are killed on the way. So it's an urgent act. It's a clear sign that the Catholic Church is not only a spiritual Church but practical really, wanting to lead and to save people.â?
After years of stalling, time is running out in the fight against the Islamic State. Christians have abandoned parts of the Middle East where they had lived for thousands of years. Soon, there may not be any Christians left in the birthplace of their religion.
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