Wow Pope Francis Spends his Birthday with Refugees that he Rescued from Cyprus - VIDEO

"You saved us!" a Congolese boy told the Pope. Pope Francis welcomed the refugees addressing them individually and thanking them for their visit. (VaticanNews excerpt)

Vatican.va release:

This morning, on his birthday, Pope Francis received at the Apostolic Palace a first group of about ten refugees who arrived in Italy yesterday thanks to an agreement between the Holy See, the Italian and Cypriot authorities, as already anticipated during the recent Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece.

The group will be supported directly by the Holy Father, while the Community of Sant'Egidio will take care of their inclusion in a one-year integration program.

The Pope welcomed the refugees in the throne room and listened to their stories and those of their journey from Congo-Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Somalia and Syria. Some of them are doctors and computer technicians. "You saved us!" said, moved, a Congolese boy, turning to him. The Pope addressed them individually a few words of welcome and affection, and thanked them for their visit.

In wishing him "long life and good health" on his birthday, the refugees gave the Pope a picture of an Afghan refugee as a gift, depicting the attempt to cross the Mediterranean by some migrants.

Pope Francis inquired about a little girl he met in the Mavrouni camp, in Lesbos, who will come to Italy in the coming days with her family to be treated, and after a photo together, he greeted the group and asked everyone to pray for him.

Source: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/12/17/0859/01811.html