For more than a year, three apartments, property of the Vatican, have been available to house refugees fleeing from war, who have arrived in Italy thanks to the humanitarian channels organized by the Sant’Egidio Community, the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy and the Waldensian Table. In a press release, the Apostolic Almoner reported April 3, 2017, that three more nuclear families from Syria have found hospitality in these apartments
To make room for them, three other nuclear families left the apartments. Two of the newly-hosted families, who suffered kidnappings and other discriminations because of their Christian religion, arrived in Italy in the month of March: the first nucleus is made up of a mother and two adolescent children, a grandmother, an aunt and another Syrian woman who lives with them; the second family is a young couple, whose first daughter, called Stella, was born two weeks ago in fact, in the apartment that is hosting them; the mother was kidnapped by ISIS for several months and now, in Italy, she has rediscovered serenity.
The first family hosted was the first that arrived in Italy in February, 2016. It is made up of two parents with two children: the first daughter is sick, but is now on the way to a happy course of integration. The children frequent regularly elementary schools, the mother is registered for a degree course for intercultural mediators and, a few days ago, she began training for work insertion.
The Vatican apartments made available to refugees are a concrete answer to the Holy Father’s appeal, at the end of the Angelus prayer, on September 6, 2015, to receive a family in every parish, religious community, monastery and shrine. To date, through humanitarian efforts, 70 nuclear families have been received in Rome for a total of 145 persons. In addition to ensuring an adequate reception in parishes, communities and associations, volunteers accompany the Syrian families towards their full integration, beginning by learning the Italian language. In addition to this hospitality, the Holy See also supports economically the 21 persons who arrived in Italy with Pope Francis from Lesbos, who have been received in some private homes and religious houses.
