Leicester welcomes Lampedusa Cross

Leicester school pupils with Lampedusa cross

A Lampedusa Cross, hand-carved from the driftwood of capsized refugee boats has been on a ten day tour around Leicester in an act of solidarity with the plight of refugees.

During its time in the county, it was briefly installed at Leicester Cathedral before going to the City of Sanctuary Drop In at Holy Cross centre, St Paul's school, Sacred Heart and St John Fisher Catholic primary schools. It was also the focus for prayer about the plight of refugees at an Interfaith Forum at Sacred Heart church. It was then returned to Leicester Cathedral before it was part of the offertory procession for a Mass for the Justice and Peace commission at St Patrick's, Beaumont Leys.

Whilst on tour, CAFOD's messages of hope were handed out so that people could write a few words for those fleeing their homes. The Dean of Leicester Cathedral, David Monteith, also acknowledged the cross whilst it was in the cathedral, reading out a prayer for refugees during the mid-week evensong Mass.

Parish volunteer and event organiser Christina Mottram said: "The cross, in my eyes, is truly a work of art and we need to get as many people need to see it as possible. I have had the opportunity, whilst volunteering with the Leicester city of sanctuary, to meet families who have travelled from overseas.

"We must understand that they are not hoards or swarms, they are real people. They have names and faces and that's how we should be seeing them; the Lampedusa Cross ten day tour has helped to emphasise that in Leicester."

As part of a campaign led by the Catholic charities CAFOD, CSAN and the Jesuit Refugee Service, each Catholic cathedral in England and Wales has been presented with a cross and invited to display it.

The Lampedusa crosses act as symbols for communities in England and Wales as they respond to the refugee crisis. Parishes and schools across Nottingham Diocese are organising pilgrimages with the cross, to show solidarity with refugees arriving in the UK, as well as praying for those far from our shores.

CAFOD representative in Leicester, Maggie Mairura, said: "The carpenter from Lampedusa who made the cross, Francesco Tuccio has, by creating this simple, handmade cross, given us a symbol of hope, solidarity and love. I am delighted that the parish has used the cross in a new and inspiring way, encouraging people to act in solidarity with those fleeing their shores."

Please donate to the Refugee Appeal here: https://cafod.org.uk/donations/one-off?_Appeal=7011A0000013hoVQAQ