Migrants send a letter to the Pope

In the first Christmas Message of his Pontificate, Pope Francis asked that migrants in search of a dignified life might find acceptance and assistance.  In response, several immigrants in Rome who have recently been on a hunger strike have ended their protest, deciding instead to send a letter to the Holy Father in order to inform him about their situation.  The letter was presented to Emanuele Gianonne, Director of Caritas Rome on Thursday of this week.

The migrants in question had sewn their mouths shut with needles and thread in order to denounce the conditions in which they had been living for the past number of months.  Some of these have been detained while they await documents granting asylum; others await deportation.

Over the past week, about twenty migrants detained in various places throughout Rome have participated in the hunger strike.  Mister Ignazio Marino, the Mayor of Rome has agreed that the moment has come to reopen the debate on the inhuman treatment of migrants in these centres and has called for legislation protecting migrants who are escaping war, violence and poverty.

According to the current immigration laws in force in Italy, migrants can be detained in these centres for up to eighteen months while their situations are resolved or until the proper documentation from their countries of origin should arrive.