(Rocca di Papa) A big party at the “Mondo Migliore” centre in Rocca di Papa, today. Bringing Pope Francis’s blessing to migrants, the Papal Almoner, cardinal Konrad Krajewski, stopped there for lunch and took ice creams to all the guests who were there. “It’s the Holy Father’s blessing for them”, the cardinal said to SIR, as he explained why he was there: “Especially for those who leave. We hope they will find a generous Christian heart, here, in Italy, everywhere, and will feel at home at last”.

Welcomed by the children with cries of joy and pleasure, the cardinal gave all the people there a picture of Pope Francis and some ice creams to celebrate. “They are not meant to cool down the hearts”, he joked: “Quite the opposite. They are a small sign of the Pope’s tenderness for them”.

Card. Krajewski was welcomed by don Francesco Soddu, director of Caritas Italy, and by Angelo Chiorazzo, founder of “Auxilium”, a cooperative in charge of managing the migrants coming and going through the Centre.

35 of the 100 migrants from the Diciotti ship, taken over by the Italian dioceses, are left. Eight of them will leave for Turin later today. People from Turin’s Migrantes are already at the “Mondo Migliore” centre to take them over. In greeting them, the cardinal told them: “I bring you the greetings of this white-clad man called Pope Francis. He supports and blesses you”.

By Friday, all of them should have left for their destinations, which have been chosen by CEI, the Italian Bishops Conference.

Thanking the cardinal for his visit, Chiorazzo pointed out: “There are Christians, Copts and Muslims here. All pray for Pope Francis. Please tell the Holy Father that everyone is grateful to him and everyone loves him here”. And, after the translation for the migrants, a child cried out to him: “Thanks, Pope Francis”. The young guests gave the Pope a painting.

The “party”, which was also attended by the mayor of Rocca di Papa, Emanuele Crestini, ended with the cutting of the cake.