Modern-day St Francis runs migrants' camp in Sicily

MEP Simon Busuttil and other MEPs have visited a migrant camp run by a 'modern-day St Francis' in Sicily.

The “Missione di Speranza e Carita” camp is run by Brother Biagio Conte ,who set it up in the 1990s after leaving the life of riches of his business family to opt for a spiritual journey. After a pilgramage to Assisi by foot, Brother Conte returned to Sicily to help his “last brothers”, the migrants.

“They do not take anything away from us” he said of the migrants, “they are giving us”.

The MEPs, who were taken to the camp by Sicilian MEP Salvatore Iacolino, were shown the reconstruction of the camp, which includes  workshops that enable migrants to try their hand at new skills, such as carpentry, pottery and bakery.

“There are no words to be said on such an occasion except that this is a true inspiration. This man is giving us all a lesson in humanity,” Dr Busuttil said.