Germany's refusal to take in some of the
thousands of mostly Tunisian migrants currently in Italy is
'unacceptable,' a top Vatican cleric said Sunday.
'I'm
astonished by the position of closure adopted by my country,'
German-born Cardinal Walter Kasper, said in an interview with Turin-
based daily, La Stampa.
'I grew up in a Germany destroyed by
the (Second World) war, but which still knew how to welcome masses of
displaced persons and to give a home to entire populations who were
fleeing from misery and despair,' the 78-year-old Kasper said.
The cleric's remarks come in the wake of a growing dispute between
Italy and fellow European Union member states, France and Germany, over
Italian plans to issue visas to the migrants to allow them to move
freely across many European countries.
More than 21,000
Tunisians have arrived in Italy since the January uprising in their
country, and, according to Italian officials, many of them wish to join
relatives who live in France, but also Germany.
But governments in Berlin and Paris say the visas would violate European travel laws.
Kasper, who is president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for
Promoting Christian Unity, and for many years headed the Vatican's
interfaith dialogue initiatives under Pope Benedict XVI and his
predecessor John Paul, said 'politicians' concerns over the plan are
understandable'.
'But Germany's opposition to the visas is unacceptable,' he added.
'Germany should be more open and show greater participation in the
current tragedy. It should play its part towards the refugees, asylum
seekers, and migrants arriving in Italy after fleeing from war and
poverty,' he told La Stampa.