Vatican: Pope Francis receives a group of migrants

On the afternoon of Tuesday, July 2, a group of migrants visited Pope Francis at Casa Santa Marta, the Pontiff’s residence within the Vatican.

Among them, as reported by Vatican News, were a Senegalese man, Ibrahim Lo, and a young woman from Gambia, Ebrima Kuyateh, authors of books in which they narrate the difficulties they had to experience when leaving their home.

Ibrahim Lo wrote “Bread and water. From Senegal to Italy passing through Libya” and a second book titled “My voice. From the coasts of Africa to the streets of Europe.”

For her part, Ebrima Kuyateh is the author of “My Feet Are Barefoot,” a book that has a preface by the Archbishop of Modena and Bishop of Carpi, Mons. Erio Castellucci.

Also present at this meeting with the Holy Father were Fr. Mattia Ferrari, chaplain of Mediterranea Saving Humans and the founder of the NGO Luca Casarini.

According to Ferrari, migrants conceive of Pope Francis as “a father,” whether they are Catholic or Muslim, and also as “a pastor for all.”

Pope Francis listened to everyone’s stories and, according to Father Ferrari, “thanked everyone for what they do and what they live and encouraged them to move forward.”

Also present was the Senegalese man known as “Pato,” whose family died of thirst in the desert. This young man already met with the Holy Father in November of last year.

The Italian priest concluded by saying that “in love, in the fraternity that is experienced with the poor, with migrants, salvation is truly experienced.”