The first 12 asylum seekers selected by the Pope have left for the Vatican

Source: Announcements

The Ministry of Interior announced today that the first group of 12 asylum seekers, out of a total of 50 selected by the Pope to relocate to the Vatican, have left Cyprus this morning.

"This symbolic move by the Pope is a recognition of the difficulties that Cyprus is facing with the ever-increasing flow of migrants illegally crossing the Green Line into the free areas of the Republic.  These migrants are being systematically pushed by Turkey to migrate to the free areas of Cyprus by crossing from the occupied side," according to the statement made by the Ministry of Interior.

"We would like to warmly thank Pope Francis and the Holy See for this symbolic gesture and we expect that it will be a springboard for substantial solidarity from the other Member States towards the Republic of Cyprus," the statement concluded.