Catholic Leaders Hold Prayer Vigil for Immigrants and Refugees on Anniversary of Pope’s Visit to Lampedusa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 5, 2016

CONTACT:

Michelle Nealy, mnealy@faithinpubliclife.org, 202-735-7123

Sara Benitez, sbenitez@faithinpubliclife.org, 202-280-9284

Catholic Leaders Hold Prayer Vigil for Immigrants and Refugees on Anniversary of Pope’s Visit to Lampedusa

Washington, DC — A group of Catholic leaders and advocacy organizations will hold a prayer vigil at the National Shrine in Washington, D.C. on Friday, July 8th, the anniversary of Pope Francis’s historic visit to the island of Lampedusa in 2013 where he met and prayed with migrants and refugees, bringing their plight to the forefront of global consciousness.

This vigil, hosted by Lampedusa U.S.A., hopes to reinvigorate the spirit of Pope Francis who reminds us that “migrants are our brothers and sisters, in search of a better life.”  

WHAT: Catholic prayer vigil for immigrants and refugees

WHEN: Friday, July 8, 2016 at 10:45 a.m.

WHERE: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017 (Meet at the Shrine entrance near the Holy Door of Mercy)

WHO: Sara Benitez, Latino Program Director for Faith in Public Life; Catholic leaders and national advocacy organizations

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