“I am here to tell you from the bottom of my heart that I am by your side,” said Pope Francis, with obvious emotion, in his speech from the Mavrovouni Reception and Identification Center (RIC) in Lesvos, where he arrived shortly before 11 a.m.
“Whoever is afraid of you has not seen you in the eyes. He has not seen the eyes of your children “, he noted addressing the refugees and immigrants, while he stressed that the refugee crisis is a matter that concerns us all.
Pope Francis insisted in his speech on the need for coordinated actions to deal with the refugee crisis, saying that “unilateral actions are not useful, but what we need now broad-minded policies. This is something that history teaches but we haven’t learned it yet”. Moreover, he stressed the fact that the refugee crisis is a matter that concerns us all and we should stop playing the blame game and start collaborating with each other so as to successfully deal with this issue.
Touching reception
Pope Francis arrived at the Reception and Identification Center (RIC) in Lesvos shortly before 11 a.m., with refugees and immigrants warmly welcoming him.
Some of them shouted “we love you” and others kissed his hand with respect. Young children offered him flowers and sang a hymn.
Upon his arrival, Pope Francis greeted all the children living in the RIC. Some even cheered while others picked up their cell phones to capture the Pope’s visit. It was a special moment when one of the children in the RIC fell into his arms.
waiting for Pope Francis #Lesvos pic.twitter.com/zGoO5uHhjM
— L’Osservatore Romano (@oss_romano) December 5, 2021
Latest News
ELSTAT: Greek Health Expenditures Reach €5.89 Billion in 2022
Finally, healthcare financing as a percentage of GDP decreased to 8.5% in 2022 from 9.18% in 2021, as per the Health Accounts System report.
Sonoco Paper Mill Plants Close After 30 Years in Greece
The shut down of the two paper mills in northern Greece comes a week after a glass plant closed in Athens
BoG: Private Deposits Down by 1.068bln Euros in Feb. 2024
Corporate deposits decreased by 912 million euros, compared to a decrease of 3.167 billion euros in the previous month
Greeks’ Buying Power Second Lowest in the EU
Greeks’ purchasing power is under pressure, ranking 26th among 27 EU member states.
Greek FinMin Says Digital Work Card Tackling Undeclared Work
Greece's recently launched digital work card aimed at tackling undeclared labor has already started to produce results, said Economy and Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis
MSC Cruises: More than 400 Visits to Nine Greek Destinations
MSC Cruises, a subsidiary of international shipping line Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A, will be sailing to Greek ports as of this month, expanding operations in the region year-round
Eurostat: Greece Among Cheaper Hourly Labor Cost Zones
In contrast, the countries that posted the highest hourly labor costs are Luxembourg (53.9 euros), Norway (51.9 euros), Iceland
GSEVEE: Economic Sentiment Indicator in Greece Down in Q2 2023
The drop follows a significant uptick in the ESI in the second half of 2022 (69.5 units) and a slight decline in the first half of 2023 (66.7 units)
Manpower Report: Sectors in Greece that Have Achieved Full Gender Equality in the Workplace
Greece surpasses this with 45%, showcasing progress but also room for improvement. Sectors like Consumer Goods and Services lead with 69% reporting full equality globally
Bank of America (BofA): Three Reasons Greek Economy Outperforms EC Average
BofA projects growth of 1.1% in 2024 and 1.7% in 2025, compared to forecasts for eurozone growth at 0.4%/1.1%, respectively