Pope Francis calls for prayer and fasting for AfghanistanAfghanistan crisis, a touchstone for human dignityExplaining faith to Afghan refugeesPope Francis was able to spend some time with Afghan refugees who had just escaped in recent days from the chaos at Kabul airport. The Pope - as stated in a communiqué from the Sala Stampa of the Holy See - addressed "words of affection and consolation". Among them were four brothers between 20 and 14 years old, who arrived in Italy thanks to the support of the Community of Sant'Egidio.
The occasion of the meeting was the screening of the documentary "Francis", broadcast at the Vatican. Also invited were homeless people, among whom were these Afghan refugees. The screening took place in an atmosphere of strong emotion for those present, who embodied the tragedies of more than 30 peoples, victims of wars, environmental emergencies and persecutions. The tension dissipated at the end of the film when Pope Francis personally embraced the refugees in the atrium of the Paul VI Hall.
In an informal atmosphere of great affection, each person, each family group, was able to receive words of consolation directly from the Pope, amidst the amazement of the youngest, incredulous to find in front of them the protagonist of the film they had just seen.
As stated by the Sala Stampa of the Holy See, "at the end of the screening of the documentary "Francis", organized by the director and the Laudato si' Foundation, the Holy Father came to the Atrium of the Paul VI Hall and spoke with the approximately 100 people, homeless and refugees, invited to watch the film."
They were about twenty people "who had arrived from Afghanistan in recent weeks, to whom the Pope addressed words of affection and consolation. Afterwards, Pope Francis returned to Casa Santa Marta and the organizers distributed a package of food to everyone".
