Pope urges Bulgarians to open up for migrants
Francis says nation should not close its eyes
SOFIA, Bulgaria — Pope Francis urged Bulgarians on Sunday to open their hearts and homes to migrants, arguing that a country like Bulgaria, which is losing so much of its population to emigration, should well understand the forces that drive people to seek better lives elsewhere.
As he arrived in the Balkan nation for a two-day visit, Francis “respectfully suggested” that Bulgarians recognize that migrants are fleeing war, conflict or dire poverty “to find new opportunities in life or simply a safe refuge.”
“To all Bulgarians, who are familiar with the drama of emigration, I respectfully suggest that you not close your eyes, your hearts or your hands — in accordance with your best tradition — to those who knock at your door,” he told government officials at the presidential palace in Sofia, the capital.
Bulgaria’s center-right, pro-brussels coalition government includes three nationalist, anti-migrant parties. The government has called for the European Union to close its borders to migrants and has sealed off its own frontier with Turkey.
But the country is also losing its population at a faster clip than any other nation, according to the United Nations. Bulgaria’s current total of 7 million people is expected to dwindle to 5.4 million by 2050 and to 3.9 million by the end of the century.
The pope has made the plight of migrants and refugees a hallmark of his papacy, urging governments to build bridges and to do what they can to welcome and integrate refugees.
His visit falls just three weeks before the European Parliament elections across the EU’S 28 nations. Nationalist, anti-migrant parties are expected to make a solid showing.
On Monday, Francis will visit a refugee center in a former school on the outskirts of Sofia. Human rights groups have criticized Bulgaria and the EU’S executive commission has formally cited the government over its treatment of asylum-seekers, especially unaccompanied minors. The Vrazhdebna center the pope plans to visit, the flagship immigrant welcome center in Bulgaria, was renovated with EU money.
Radostina Belcheva of the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria said Francis’ visit will show solidarity with those in need.
“But really, their whole acceptance is a matter for each of us and for our society,” Belcheva told The Associated Press.