VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis had lunch on Thursday with a group of 21 Syrian refugees from the Sant’Egidio Community at his home in Casa Santa Marta, said the director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Gregory Burke.

 The refugee families came to Italy following the pope’s visit to the Greek island of Lesbos, with the first group travelling along with Francis on a flight on April 26, and the second arriving in mid-June.

  “Both the adults and children had the chance to speak with the pope about their lives in Italy. The children presented him with a collection of pictures they had drawn, and were in return given toys and other gifts by the pope,” Burke said.

 Also present at the lunch were Angelo Becciu, the Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio, as well as other members of the Community. The commander of the Vatican Gendarmerie police force, Domenico Giani, was also there, along with two police officers who had worked together in bringing the families across from the island of Lesbos to Italy.

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