Vatican takes in 12 migrants as pope denounces indifference

By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS and NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Pope Francis has denounced the “indifference” that the West shows migrants as the Vatican confirmed at least a dozen asylum-seekers would be transferred from Cyprus to Italy. The Vatican said the Rome-based Sant’Egidio Community had arranged to bring the would-be refugees to Italy in the coming weeks. It said 12 would be transferred. Earlier, the Cypriot Interior Ministry had thanked Francis and the Holy See for an initiative to relocate 50 asylum-seekers, calling it a recognition of the Mediterranean island nation’s inability to continue to absorb migrants and refugees. Francis held a Friday evening prayer service with migrants in the Church of the Holy Cross in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus.