Pope makes appeal following attacks on Africans

Monday, January 11, 2010

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On January 9, Pope Benedict XVI denounced a wave of violence which pitted mostly African farm workers against authorities in Calabria. The disturbance in southern Italy, left more than 70 people injured over the weekend.

African migrant workers lit bonfires and wielded cudgels and iron rods while rampaging through the town of Rosarno, Calabria, after two migrants were wounded in a shooting by locals. One of the protesters cried, "We are not animals!" Forty or more persons, including several policemen, were injured in two days of clashes between the migrants, police and residents. Hundreds of African workers were evacuated on buses provided by authorities.

Media sources link the protests to conflicts with organized crime, a centuries-long tradition in Italy where the government has long contended with criminal organizations such as the Camorra and the 'Ndragheta.

Speaking to the crowds assembled at St. Peter's Square on January 9, the Pope made an appeal saying that Italy needs immigrants who are seeking to improve their lives.

The pontiff said, "An immigrant is a human being, different only in where he comes from, his culture and tradition... I invite everyone to look in the face of those nearby and see their soul, their history and their life and say to themselves: it is a man and God loves him as God loves me."

"He is a person to respect and with rights and responsibilities, and should be respected particularly in the working world where there is an temptation to exploit."

"We have to go to the heart of the problem, of the significance of the human being." But, he said: "Violence must never be a means to solve difficulties."

Pope Benedict also denounced attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt which left seven people dead on January 6. "Let there never be violence in the name of God!" Benedict said.

Speroforum editor Martin Barillas is a former US diplomat, who also worked as a democracy advocate and election observer in Latin America. He is also a freelance translator.

Filed under security, italy, catholic, religion, pope benedict xvi, vatican, christianity

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