Pope Francis remembers migrants who died off the coast of Greece

The Pope, who was discharged from the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on June 7 after completing the recovery process after a laparotomy operation and implantation of an abdominal wall prosthesis, performed the traditional Sunday prayer from the window of the Vatican office with views of St. Peter’s Square after a two-week break.

Pope Francis thanked the interest and closeness shown by the operation to which he was subjected at the beginning of the prayer.

In the last part of the Sunday prayer, the spiritual leader of the Catholics referred to the disaster related to the sinking of the ship of irregular immigrants in Greece on June 14.

Noting that June 20 is recognized by the United Nations as World Refugee Day, the Pope said: “I think with great sadness and deep pain of the victims of the very serious shipwreck that took place off the coast of Greece recently. It seems that the sea is calm. I reiterate my prayers for those who lost their lives. I always hope that everything possible is done to prevent such tragedies.” he used the phrases.

On the other hand, in some news items in the Italian press it was stated that the tragedy of the immigrants might not have happened as Greece had announced.

DISASTER OUTSIDE GREECE

On June 14, 47 nautical miles from Navarino, in the Greek Peloponnese, a fishing boat carrying irregular migrants capsized in international waters.

In the incident, 78 people lost their lives, 104 people were rescued and brought to the port of Kalamata.

The Greek Coast Guard announced that 47 of the rescued migrants were Syrian citizens, 43 Egyptians, 12 Pakistanis and 2 Palestinians.

According to Alarm Phone, a nonprofit organization, there were around 700 people on board. (AA)