«The delegation was to include 12 youths, two priests and myself,» Bishop Giorgio Biguzzi of Makeni told the Misna missionary agency.
«The Canadian authorities have only given visas to me and to the two priests, saying that we were the only ones in the group who offered sufficient guarantees for the return to Sierra Leone, while the youths, according to the authorities, would have taken advantage of the trip abroad to leave their native country,» Bishop Biguzzi explained.
«I will have to travel alone to Toronto, as the two priests have refused to travel without the rest of the delegation,» he added.
Canada has denied about 6,000 visas for youths from the Third World, fearing they won’t leave after World Youth Day.
Bishop Biguzzi was to leave for Canada today via Guinea. «I am surprised that in the era of globalization, barriers are raised, insuperable walls that impede the youths of Sierra Leone from sharing their faith experience after 10 years of war,» he commented.
The bishop added: «Right now, when peace has broken out, someone has ruined our celebration.»
