VATICAN CITY (TheBlaze/AP) — The Vatican will shelter two families of refugees who are "fleeing death" from war or hunger, Pope Francis announced Sunday as he called on Catholic parishes, convents and monasteries across Europe to do the same.
Francis cited Mother Teresa, the European-born nun who cared for the poorest in India, in making his appeal in remarks to pilgrims and tourists in St. Peter's Square.
"Faced with the tragedy of tens of thousands of refugees who are fleeting death by war and by hunger, and who are on a path toward a hope for life, the Gospel calls us to be neighbors to the smallest and most abandoned, to give them concrete hope," Frances said.
Caption:Pope Francis delivers his speach as he leads the sunday Angelus prayer from the window of his study overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on September 6, 2015. The pontioff called on every European parish and religious community to take in one migrant family each in a gesture of solidarity he said would start in the tiny Vatican state where he lives. AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTE (Photo credit should read FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
It's not enough to say "Have courage, hang in there," he added. Francis added that the refugees are on a march toward "life's hope."
"May every parish, every religious community, every monastery, every sanctuary in Europe host a family, starting with my diocese of Rome," Francis said. He also asked bishops throughout Europe to have their dioceses take up his call to "express the Gospel in concrete terms and take in a family of refugees."
The Vatican is a tiny city-state and some of its citizens, including families with children, live in apartments inside its ancient walls. It has two parish churches, including St. Peter's Basilica.
Francis said two of the Vatican's parishes will welcome two refugee families, but did not give details. A Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Ciro Benedettini, quoted the pope's chief alms-giver as saying the Vatican is now deciding which families will be hosted.
He has chosen mercy as the overarching theme of his papacy. Practicing what he preaches, he has already made free showers at the Vatican available to Rome's homeless and has barbers available for haircuts for the needy, among other initiatives.
Thousands of migrants and refugees, many fleeing war and persecution, have streamed into Germany and Austria over the weekend after being stuck in Hungary for days.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has plans to discuss the flooding of migrants into her country with her coalition partners Sunday as Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he's prepared to receive more refugees to his country.
Pope Francis, President Mattarella & Andrea Riccardi united in calling for peace & #refugeeswelcome#peaceispossible pic.twitter.com/X8XpnA9udz
— Valerio De Cesaris (@ValerioDeC) September 6, 2015@jaketapper @Pontifex:Wonderfu gesture some private citizens sponsoring refugee families.
— Yusuff Ashrafi (@YusuffAshrafi) September 6, 2015@CBCAlerts @CBCNews @Pontifex let's call on Vatican to sell off portion of its artwork, luxe items, property and donate to effort as well...
— Jodi Koberinski (@JodiKoberinski) September 6, 2015
