Aylan Kurdi, R.I.P. Answer Pope's Call to Assist Refugees

Aylan Kurdi, R.I.P.

Aylan Kurdi and his brother Galip, who also drowned along with their Mother Rehen, as they tried to escape war torn Syria.

 * The UN reports there are some 59.5 million displaced persons on our planet.  59.5 million of our brothers and sisters.  If they were a nation, they’d be the 24^th largest nation on earth.  Larger than South Africa (50 million) Souh Korea (48 Million) Columbia (48 million) Poland (38 million) and Argentina (40 million).  http://www.unhcr.org/556725e69.html 

Europe: Catholics answer Pope Francis's call to welcome refugees 
08 September 2015 - See more at: http://en.jrs.net/news_detail?TN=NEWS-20150908103848#sthash.ipkO4f9v.dpuf

Brussels, 7 September 2015 – Catholics across Europe are answering Pope Francis's call to show hospitality to refugees. Since the Pope's statement earlier this week, the Jesuit Refugee Service has heard from thousands of people eager to host refugees in their homes, provide clothing or offer other help to those in need.

On Sunday 6 September, Pope Francis said, "may every parish, every religious community, every monastery, every sanctuary in Europe take in one family." He added that the two parishes in the Vatican itself would each welcome a refugee family.

"Faced with the tragedy of tens of thousands of refugees who are fleeing death by war and by hunger... the Gospel calls us to be neighbours to the smallest and most abandoned," said the Pope, who asks that welcoming refugee families be part of the build-up to the upcoming Jubilee Year of Mercy, which will begin this December. 

Europe's Catholics were already reaching out to offer help. "Our cell phone doesn't stop ringing. We've gotten 700 emails in five days," says Inês Braizinha, head of communications for JRS Portugal.