VATICAN CITY -- When Pope Francis visited the island of Lesbos, in Greece, last week, he did not return alone, bringing 12 refugees back with him to the Vatican.  The refugees form three families from Syria, all of whom are Muslim and had their immigration papers in order, according to the pontiff who said that they would be given lodging in Rome and help from the Sant’Egidio Community, especially in finding employment.

 This move has clearly shown that the Pope is behind keeping the borders of Europe open, and will place more moral pressure on many to keep them that way.  There is growing opposition, however, from many who believe that the integration of large numbers of refugees will not be possible.  There are those who believe it will be especially difficult to integrate those who practice Islam, as many of these critics believe that due to a weakening in the practice of Christianity across Europe, the continent may become predominantly Muslim, including adherence to Sharia law within the next few decades.

 The Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán is one of these who have argued that the flood of immigrants will eventually overwhelm the smaller nations, leading to “their slow destruction.”  He is set to build fences along Hungary’s southern border, blocking unlimited immigration.  In a speech to his country he said, “What we face is nothing less than the challenge of finding ourselves at the gateway to the implementation of a deliberate conceptual project, which could be described as left-wing and which seeks to marginalize the nation states of Europe. Where this project has failed to overcome Christianity and the identity of the nation state — and the values and responsibility springing from it — in conventional political struggle, it will strive to eliminate it on ethnic grounds.”

 The top Catholic leader in Hungary, Bishop Laszlo Kiss-Rigo, is another who seems to not be taking his leader’s views on board and maintains a bigoted stance saying, “They’re not refugees.  This is an invasion.  They come here with cries of ‘Allahu Akbar.’  They want to take over.”  It is interesting to note that the recently elected government in Poland also holds an anti-immigration viewpoint.

 The Pope is sticking to his guns, however, saying he believes that we in Europe must welcome all those who arrive at our fringes, whether in Greece, Italy or Spain, and does not believe families should be forced to live in camps for weeks and months on end. “What I saw today and what you saw in that refugee camp – it makes you weep,” he told reporters.

 Their difference in religion was never a factor for Pope Francis as he said on the papal jet, whilst flying home from his trip to Greece, “I give priority to all children of God.”  He also revealed that there were also two Christian families who were due to return with him, but that their papers were not ready in time.

 On other questions, the Pope confirmed that he had met US Senator and Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders the morning he left for Greece, as Sanders was staying in the Domus Sanctae Marthae where the pontiff also resides, along with other participants to a Vatican conference.  “It was polite” of Sanders, who knew when he was leaving, to go downstairs to greet him, the Pope said.  “If someone thinks greeting someone is to get involved in politics, I recommend he see a psychiatrist.”

 The Pope highlighted the need for Europe to implement policies that welcome people, integrating them with work, and creating policies that foresee growth and push forward a reform of the economy.  “I have always said that building walls is not a solution. We saw walls during the last century and they did not resolve anything. We must build bridges. Bridges are built with intelligence, with dialogue, with integration,” he said.  He also said he “would invite the producers of arms to spend a day in the camp [in Lesbos]: I believe that would be good.”

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