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Jesuit photo exhibit tells stories of refugees |
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22/05/2009 (1:25)
Respect for refugees and exchanging fear for a sense of welcome: this is the theme of a photography exhibit launched in Rome on May 20th by the John Felice Rome Centre of Loyola University Chicago in conjunction with Jesuit Refugee Services.
The photos feature immigrants and displaced people who have had to escape their homelands for political or economic reasons. Abandoning one’s home is never easy and the stories of these refugees and their families are complex. The exhibit aims to recognize this and highlight the dignity and courage of these individuals.
A member of the Afghan refugee community, Kabir Hazaran, participated in the official launch, as did the Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis, Lesley-Anne Knight, the International Director of Jesuit Refugee Services, Peter Balleis, and the Vice-President of the John Felice Rome Centre, Emilio Iodice.
It was repeatedly emphasized during the launch that behind these photographs are personal stories of persecution, poverty and war and that only by welcoming refugees without fear can we give them a sense of welcome and avoid social marginalization.
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