The Archbishop of Athens Ieronymos has expressed his anger and frustration over the latest nautical tragedies in the Mediterranean Sea which has seen hundreds of migrants and refugees perish, in their effort to reach Europe.
In his statement the Archbishop argued that there are major responsibilities for the tragedies and criticized world leaders for not showing the necessary interest in order to find a solution to avert the disasters at sea.
He called for greater efforts to be made to stop slave traders and human traffickers from taking advantage of innocent people who simply want a better a life and decent living conditions. He also called for an end to the conflicts which are forcing countless to seek a better future for their children elsewhere.
Furthermore, he stressed that the sympathy notes and international media reports are not enough to save lives and end these tragedies. “No plate of food, no blanket is enough to tackle the waves of refugees and migrants; there is no room for political games and ‘balances’ for boats overflowing with human souls”, he added.
According to the Archbishop, courage and determination is needed in order to address the causes of the major problem, which constitute a “shame for human civilization”.
