CEI: project in Jordan; card. Bassetti, 'bridges not walls'

The president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, sent the Latins Patriarch of Jerusalem, Msgr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, a message on the occasion of the launch of the "Bridges in Amman" project and the blessing of the Casa Sacro Cuore. Financed by the Service for Charitable Interventions in favor of the Third World of the CEI through 8xmille funds and conceived by the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart as part of the initiatives promoted to celebrate the first centenary of the foundation, the project is implemented with the support of Gemelli Medical Center and is coordinated, on behalf of the Latin Patriarchate, by the HAbibi VAltiberina association which has been working in the Middle East for years. "The intervention aims to contribute - underlines Card. Bassetti - toinclusion of Iraqi Christians seeking asylum present in Jordan and, in particular, in Amman, through the promotion of training courses for Iraqi and Jordanian teachers, counselors and families; start a medical and psychological screening service for minors; organize health education meetings for Iraqi and Jordanian women. "The president of the CEI and archbishop of Perugia-Città della Pieve stressed the importance of building a culture of" bridges ":" In recent years we have learned how important it is to found our actions on the culture of bridges and not walls. The Jordanian people demonstrated the warmth and flavor of welcoming Palestinian, Iraqi and other refugees from other crisis areas, in particular from neighboring Syria. A great lesson in humanity,especially for Europe ". For Bassetti," inclusion is also fundamental. Towards the sisters and brothers fleeing from wars and persecutions, an integral approach is needed, which knows how to 'welcome, protect, promote and integrate'. These four verbs, indicated by Pope Francis, remain the compass for facing the challenge of migration, in Italy and in Europe ".