Foreign thank you for being with us before us we have to see a source of life but this place reminds us of the tragedy of those who perish at Sea and reminds us of death we are here today in memory of the people who did not survive people who are not saved
We should not get used to seeing people who perish at Sea as just more news we should not see people who perish at Sea as figures no they are names first names and surnames they have their own stories these are lives that are broken and these are dreams that never became true
My thoughts go to the numerous brothers and sisters who died fearful circumstances with hope in their heart when faced with such tragic events words are not enough we need actions but before anything else we need Humanity silence prayer compassion and tears I would like to invite you now to a
Moment of silence in memory of our brothers and sisters let us allow our hearts to be touched by their tragedy completely too many people fleeing conflict environmental disasters or poverty find in the Mediterranean their final resting place in their quest for a better future this is how this beautiful sea has
Become a vast Cemetery where so many brothers and sisters even to a tomb taken from them what is buried here is life itself at the end at the end of a long trip a gentleman from Guinea told me that when you are on the ocean you’re at a Crossroads between life and death
And there’s no other way out than one of those two ways dear friends we are also faced with a Crossroads on the one hand we have fraternity Brotherhood the goodness of the community and in the other direction indifference indifference that brings death to the Mediterranean civilization is at a Crossroads
Brotherhood fraternity civilization or a culture of indifference we cannot stand back and see human beings treated as merchandise imprisoned and tortured in terrible circumstances we know this and very often when we send them back home we’re sending them back home to being tortured and imprisoned again we can no longer stand by
And observe the sinkings in the Mediterranean which are due to indifference a fanatical indifference in fact the people who are risking their lives who are risking sinking in a Mediterranean must be saved this is a duty of humanity this is a duty for civilization the heavens
Will bless us if we are able to look after the weakest amongst us if we’re able to overcome fear and disinterest which sends people to their death with a velvet glove we are called upon to be examples God blessed Abraham he was called upon to leave his home he
Left without knowing where he would go he was a pilgrim welcomed in a foreign land is he would welcome Travelers who passed his tent although he was himself far from home and whilst being far from home he was a home for all and in recompense for his Hospitality he was given a descendants
So we have welcoming love of course love for the Foreigner in the name of God and this is vital this is vital if as our Father Abraham we dream of a future let us not forget what the Bible says the orphan the Widow and the Foreigner
This is precisely what God calls on us to save and Preserve we must be able to welcome people in Brotherhood religious very often relations between religious groups are not easy often there is a seed of extremism of fundamentalism undermines the life of religious communities but on these topics I would like to
Remind you what a godly man once wrote a man who lived not far from here no one should keep in their heart hatred for another woman but we should hold love because if we hate a single man you cannot be heard by God God does not hear the
Prayers of those who have hatred in their hearts today you must say is a shining example of many religions living together many religions living side by side I would like to thank all of you who have taken the path of meeting of encountering human life of welcoming Marseille is a model for integration Here we have many people very many organizations working to support migrants there’s even a religious organization working for peaceful coexistence pioneers of dialogue and togetherness come from this area and we recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of her death you are the Marseille of the future continue do not lose hope
Because this city must be for France for Europe and for the world a true Mosaic of Hope I would like to come back to the words that were spoken during a recent Mediterranean meeting this is choose Christians and Muslims met to read the Greeks secular people and we need to rebuild
That house continue to fight together to destroy Idols to build Bridges and to create a new humanism we must look into the details of our time and love it all the more when it appears difficult to love I believe that this is the seed that was sown during these days
These are days that are relevant to our shared Destiny we must no longer be fearful of problems we must no longer be fearful of the problems that the Mediterranean brings for the European Union and for all of us this is an issue of survival dear brothers and sisters
Let us face our issues together let us not sink hope together let us design the Mosaic of peace I’m delighted to see so many of you here today who take to the sea to save migrants You often have to face people who are trying to stop you doing this you’re not allowed you these are hateful actions bearing hate against our brothers and sisters under the guise of balance thank you for everything that you’re doing foreign
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