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Pope Aids Interned Refugees

July 7, 1941
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Pope Pius is deeply interested in the welfare of refugees interned in Italy and will expend all efforts for betterment of their condition, the Papal Nuncio to the Italian Government told Jewish refugees at Fieremonte in southern Italy, largest of the internment camps. The visit completed a tour of the various camps undertaken by the Nuncio on instructions from the Pope.

The Nuncio invited the refugees to write letters to relatives in Palestine which the Vatican would deliver, since the Italian Government has no relations with Palestine, and he also left a gift from the Pope amounting to approximately $150 for purchase of sacramental wine.

The papal emissary expressed interest in the organization of spiritual life of the interned refugees. Five synagogues have been built for the 1,200 refugees at Fieremonte. The synagogues are housed in one-room barracks, adorned in the customary ecclesiastical style with ornaments donated by Italian Jewish communities. The represent various Sephardic and Ashkenazic sects of Jews of more than a dozen nationalities.

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