The Vatican welcomed the refugee families after an appeal made by Pope Francis on every parish, religious community, monastery and shrine in Europe to take in a family of refugees.

Without a faith dimension, ideological and political notions of development will fail, even if they have some initial success, Cardinal Gerhard Muller said.

“Church leaders in Australia took a long time to sit down with victims. Some still don’t.”

The pope told the participants that his first reaction to hearing about "this praiseworthy initiative" was one of gratitude to God.

We must ask ourselves, what do I feel when I see on the news that a bomb has fallen on a hospital and lots of poor children have been killed? Do I just say a prayer and go on my way like before?

Sean Salai, S.J., interviews canon lawyer Kurt Martens.