The Vatican has taken in a family who fled Damascus, just days after Pope Francis urged Catholic parishes across the world to assist refugees.
The Syrian family of four, all Melkite Greek Catholics, arrived on Sept. 6 and are being housed in the city-state’s Santa Anna Parish, according to a statement from the Vatican.
Pope Francis said previously both the Vatican’s parishes would house refugee families, though it has not provided details about the actions of the second parish, St. Peter’s Basilica.
“The procedures for requesting international protection were initiated immediately,” the Vatican Information Service said. The Santa Anna Parish will now assist the family for the first six months after their asylum request, the statement continued, because they cannot legally accept paid work.
The parish is housing the family in a Vatican apartment near St. Peter’s Basilica.
- Column: Tyre Nichols' Killing Is The Result of a Diseased Culture
- Without Evusheld, Immunocompromised People Are on Their Own Against COVID-19
- Here Are All the Movies and TV Shows That Make Up the New DCU
- TikTok's 'De-Influencing' Trend Is Here to Tell You What Stuff You Don't Need to Buy
- Column: America Goes About Juvenile Crime Sentencing All Wrong
- Why Your Tax Refund May Be Lower This Year
- Brazil Wants to Abandon a 34,000-Ton Ship at Sea. It Would be an Environmental Disaster
- The 5 Best New TV Shows Our Critic Watched in January 2023